Lecture 10 - Personality and relationships - October 8 Flashcards
about how many introverts are shy
about 1/3
does introverted mean shy
introverted does not have to mean shy, though there is overlap
what is shyness
Shyness is a form of anxiety characterized by inhibited behavior. It also implies a fear of social judgment that can be crippling
why do shy people avoid social situations
Shy people actively seek to avoid social situations, even ones they might want to take part in, because they may be inhibited by fear. Introverts shun social situations because, Greta Garbo–style, they simply want to be alone
should shyness be thought of as abnormal?
“Our culture expects people to be outgoing and sociable. It’s the unstated norm, and against that norm introverts stand out as seemingly problematic.“Christopher Lane,
Shyness: How Normal Behavior Became a Sickness.
what are some traits of Introversion
Talk less when they meet someone new.
Less eye contact when interacting.
Less firm handshake.
Study in secluded places.
Prefer solitary pursuits.
Narrow friendship network
Less likely to emerge as leaders.
what are some positives of introverts
Listen more.
Deliberation helps them make smart decisions.
Excel at solitary work.
Can be highly effective leaders with proactive groups
Jerome Kagan’s Inhibited-Shy Child: explain what his research showed
he studied videos of babies reacting to unfamiliar stimuli. about 20 % responded with stress (crying) and the others did not react at all. Turns out that the ones that responded poorly would be introverts– they would not like to explore things on their own and did not like unfamiliar things.
Jerome Kagan’s Inhibited-Shy Child: does shyness go away over time
people act less shy HOWEVER when studying their physiology even when they are 30, they react in a fearful way… so they act not shy but their body is very shy
Will inhibited kids grow up to be introverted and anxious adults?
Physiology remains/behavior adapts
Parenting makes a difference (environment makes a difference!)
what is Gentle Nudging?
“Just about every adult introvert can remember being scolded, even if gently, for being too quiet as a kid. There’s nothing wrong with parents’ nudging their shy children into the world, but there is something wrong if it’s more than a nudge.
You don’t want to break the kid by overwhelming their coping capacity.
The key is sensitive encouragement.”
What if I am in the 25% who stay shy inhibited into adulthood?
Will I be able to pursue my developmental goals?
where some capacity to change for particular goals (free trait theory)
what is Free Trait Theory
The idea that while we have certain fixed bits of personality, we can act out of character in the service of core personal goals.”
what are the Three Important Identities brian little says we have
biogenic
sociogenic
ideogenic
define Biogenic:
Our mostly inborn personality.
like our big 5 traits
