Social Withdrawal and Shyness

This chapter provides a conceptual overview of the construct of social withdrawal. It describes the developmental origins, with an emphasis on the contributions of biology and parents, and details the psychosocial costs of child and adolescent social withdrawal. Social withdrawal and shyness appear to develop from a biologically based temperamental predisposition toward heightened fear reactivity and ineffective fear regulation. From early childhood through adolescence, shyness is concurrently and predictively associated with a wide range of socioemotional difficulties. The chapter outlines the correlates and outcomes of shyness, with a focus on implications for social development. Numerous studies also indicate that many socially withdrawn youth experience peer victimization during childhood and early adolescence. The chapter suggests the potential impact of increased social isolation and solitude on socially withdrawn youth during Covid-19 global pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic, however, may be particularly challenging for already vulnerable socially withdrawn youth.