What shy individuals do to cope with their shyness: a content analysis and evaluation of self-selected coping strategies.
A content analysis of the written responses of 158 shy individuals was performed to investigate the nature of the self-selected strategies they reported using to deal with their shyness. The classification, along with the frequency of their use, of the self-selected strategies by four raters identified 10 separate categories, with the top five labeled forced extraversion (65%), cognitively induced self-reassurance (26%), educational extraversion (15.2%), sought professional help (14.6%), and alcohol-assisted extraversion (12.7%). An evaluation of the self-selected strategies indicated that they were associated with characteristic features that were incomplete, self-defeating, and/or potentially dangerous (e.g., self-medication). Suggestions as to how shy individuals might improve the effectiveness of these self-selected strategies for dealing with their shyness and the therapeutic implications associated with seeking professional assistance for shyness are presented.
Carducci
Bernardo J
BJ
Shyness Research Institute, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana 47150, USA. bcarducc@ius.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology; D012792:Shyness; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult