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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- Self-Conscious Shyness: Growth During Toddlerhood, Strong Role of Genetics, and No Prediction From Fearful Shyness
- Wilkens, Natalie (Author)
- Lemery, Kathryn (Author)
- Aksan, Nazan (Author)
- Goldsmith, H. Hill (Author)
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Contributor)
- Digital object identifier: 10.1111/infa.12070
- Identifier TypeInternational standard serial numberIdentifier Value1532-7078
- 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