Shyness and Embarrassment
Perspectives from Social Psychology

Leading international researchers draw upon a variety of perspectives on the study of shyness and embarrassment, shame, blushing and self-consciousness.

W. Ray Crozier (Edited by)

9780521172196, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 14 April 2011

376 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.55 kg

"...a valuable collection...." John P. Sabini, Contemporary Psychology

In this 1990 volume leading international researchers draw upon a variety of perspectives on the study of shyness and embarrassment, shame, blushing and self-consciousness. The contributors conceive of shyness and embarrassment as widely shared everyday experiences in which the desired routine flow of social interaction is inhibited by self-consciousness and feelings of discomfort or foolishness. The dominant position within social psychology - that these are aspects of social anxiety - is both attacked and defended. The role of unwelcome self-referential thoughts in the experience of the social emotions is critically evaluated in terms of objective self-awareness, social anxiety, and impression management theories. This engaging volume will appeal to all of those interested in psychology - particularly in personality theory, social and clinical psychology, and the study of the self - and to students and teachers of communication studies and related disciplines.

Acknowledgements
Introduction W. Ray Crozier
Part I. Theoretical Issues in the Study of Shyness and Embarrassment: 1. Social psychological perspectives on shyness,embarrassment and shame W. Ray Crozier
2. Shyness and embarrassment in psychological theory and ordinary language Peter R. Harris
3. The expression of shyness and embarrassment Jens Asendorff
4. The impact of focus of attention and affect on social behaviour Frederick X. Gibbons
5. The evolution and manifestation of social anxiety Paul Gilbert and Peter Trower
Part II. An Emphasis Upon Embarrassment: 6. Embarrassment: a conceptual analysis Rom Harré
7. Embarrassment and blushing: a component-process model, some initial descriptive and cross-cultural data Robert J. Edelmann
8. Blushing as a discourse: was Darwin wrong? Cristiano Castelfranchi and Isabella Poggi
Part III. An Emphasis Upon Shyness: 9. A definition of shyness and its implications for clinical practice Henk T. Van Der Molen
10. Shyness and self-presentation James A. Shepperd and Robert M. Arkin
11. Shyness as a personality trait Jonathan M. Cheek and Stephen R. Briggs
12. Social anxiety, personality, and the self: clinical research and practice Lorne M. Hartman and Patricia A. Cleland
Name index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Social, group or collective psychology [JMH]