Description

Fearful and self-conscious subtypes of shyness have received little attention in the empirical literature. Study aims included the following: (1) determining whether fearful shyness predicted self-conscious shyness, (2) describing development of self-conscious shyness, and (3) examining genetic and environmental contributions

Fearful and self-conscious subtypes of shyness have received little attention in the empirical literature. Study aims included the following: (1) determining whether fearful shyness predicted self-conscious shyness, (2) describing development of self-conscious shyness, and (3) examining genetic and environmental contributions to fearful and self-conscious shyness. Observed self-conscious shyness was examined at 19, 22, 25, and 28 months in same-sex twins (MZ = 102, DZ = 111, missing zygosity = 3 pairs). Self-conscious shyness increased across toddlerhood, but onset was earlier than predicted by theory. Fearful shyness (observed [6 and 12 months] and parents’ reports [12 and 22 months]) was not predictive of self-conscious shyness. Independent genetic factors made strong contributions to parent-reported (but not observed) fearful shyness (additive genetic influence = .69 and .72 at 12 and 22 months, respectively) and self-conscious shyness (additive genetic influence = .90 for the growth model intercept). Results encourage future investigation of patterns of change and inter-relations in shyness subtypes.

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Title
  • Self-Conscious Shyness: Growth During Toddlerhood, Strong Role of Genetics, and No Prediction From Fearful Shyness
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Date Created
2015-03-01
Resource Type
  • Text
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    Identifier
    • Digital object identifier: 10.1111/infa.12070
    • Identifier Type
      International standard serial number
      Identifier Value
      1532-7078
    Note
    • This is the peer reviewed version of the article, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/infa.12070

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    Eggum-Wilkens, Natalie D., Lemery-Chalfant, Kathryn, Aksan, Nazan, & Goldsmith, H. Hill (2015). Self-conscious Shyness: Growth during Toddlerhood, Strong Role of Genetics, and No Prediction from Fearful Shyness. INFANCY, 20(2), 160-188. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/infa.12070

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