Shyness

It is not difficult to conjure up an image of a shy child, tongue-tied and staring at the floor when asked a question by an adult; or hovering at the periphery of a game, perhaps peering from behind mother at the other children’s activities. Nor is it difficult to imagine a shy adolescent or adult, minimally involved in a social event, avoiding eye contact, not speaking unless spoken to, talking in a soft voice.