The pervasiveness of shyness — among teens as well as adults — is inching upward, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Indiana University Shyness Research Institute…

More people are reacting to all that stimuli by withdrawing from social situations, avoiding intimate exchanges or interacting more electronically, he said.
What’s lost sometimes is the ability to compromise, negotiate and get along with a diverse group of people…

“They don’t have to be the most popular kid in school to be healthy and well-adjusted,” says Carducci. “But it’s a red flag if they’re not engaging with a core group of friends.”
The average teenager tends to have four to six good friends, says Indiana University psychology professor Kathy Johnson…

Many studies show 40 percent to 43 percent of people consider themselves shy, says Carducci, author of several books dealing with shyness. But the feeling is more intense among teens because their bodies, emotions and lives are in great transition.

Sometimes, it takes a change in environment, a mentor or good role-modeling from parents or even peers to help teens improve their social skills.

Source: NewsJournal
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