shyness
n. anxiety and inhibition in social situations, typically involving three components: (a) global feelings of emotional arousal and specific physiological experiences (e.g., pounding heart, sweating, blushing); (b) acute public self-consciousness, self-deprecation, and worries about being evaluated negatively by others; and (c) observable behavior such as quietness, gaze aversion, and social withdrawal. Extremely shy individuals are at an increased risk of developing anxiety disorders such as social phobia. Shyness also is seen in nonhuman animals, manifest as an avoidance of novel stimuli and a lack of exploration in unfamiliar environments. Also called timidity. Compare boldness. —shy
adj.