| Popis: |
There is increasing evidence to suggest that shyness is a multidimensional phenomenon in childhood across cultural contexts. This chapter reviews the recent theory development and empirical evidence related to differentiation of three forms of childhood shyness, including shyness toward strangers, anxious shyness, and regulated shyness. Drawing from Nigg (Psychological Bulletin 126:220–246, 2000)’s model of motivational and executive inhibition, we argue that regardless of cultural context, all the three forms of shyness may be related to an early emerging sensitive motivational inhibition system that predisposes children to dispositional appeasement, but they may be differentially related to a later developing executive inhibition system over time. There are both within- and between-cultural differences in these three forms of shyness. Within each culture, the three forms of shyness vary in their primary eliciting situations and accompanying behaviors and emotions and are associated with different peer relationships and psychosocial adjustment. Across cultural contexts, predominant cultural norms and beliefs may shape hyper- and hypocognition of the three forms of shyness, as well as their appeasement functions and focal events that activate each form of shyness. We also discuss an important future direction of understanding the role of implicit theories in explaining cultural similarities and variations in interpersonal perception of and relationship with shy children. |
