No one ends up agreeing on whether shy people are born and made. In which there is agreement on the large number of negative consequences that shyness produces in all areas of life. Shyness can be overcome, and that means we need to downplay whether it’s a genetic trait, a character trait, or a learned trait.
The relationship between character and shyness
- Some people think that shyness is genetically determined and that is why we cannot do anything to change it. Others, on the other hand, affirm that it is a behavior acquired during childhood that is very difficult to transform. And in the middle are those who think that shyness is a character trait and, therefore, it is possible to modify it.
- Behaviorist psychological theories are the ones that throw optimism in this to be able to overcome shyness. Any character trait can be modified with the appropriate therapy, whether it is something innate or acquired during childhood. Because in reality it doesn’t matter if we were born with the shyness gene, what really makes us shy is the way in which we have been taught to relate to the environment during childhood.
- We are once again in that key stage that is childhood where the behavior of those around us is decisive when it comes to forging a shy or sociable character. Nor can we resign ourselves if shyness has accompanied us since we can remember, because it is in maturity when we can really shape our character as we really want it to be.
- Therefore, despite the theories that shyness is an immovable character trait, despite its genetic component, we can learn to be more sociable, develop social skills and stop being so shy. We cannot forget that in shyness not only character or personality comes into play, but also self- confidence, self-esteem and independence.