Psychological and Cultural Series, Part 28: The Problem of Social Shyness

This book explains that shyness is a scourge on many souls and it controls a person to varying degrees, some of which are mild and some of which are so severe that they paralyze a person and cause him to lose his effective role in social life. But the perplexing question is, what are the causes of shyness? And how does it develop in a person? It is certain that a person is not born shy; rather, shyness develops as a person grows. One could say that children are born with a predisposition to shyness, as if the seed of shyness is present from birth. This highlights the importance of upbringing: either nurture this seed so it grows and flourishes, or extinguish it, causing it to disappear forever. Shyness is a human problem, affecting individuals in all societies and cultures. It causes many difficulties for those who suffer from it, as they find it hard to form social relationships and friendships. It can lead to fear, anxiety, and nervous and psychological disturbances, as well as a fear of performing any skill or task for fear of failure due to difficulty concentrating on their surroundings. They may also be unable to cope with any emergency or incident on their own. Given the importance of the topic of shyness and its negative effects on the performance of children, adolescents, and adults, this book addresses the subject of shyness in its entirety: its definition, the difference between shyness and modesty, its symptoms, its harms, the characteristics of a shy child or adult, its causes, and its treatment. An Islamic and psychological perspective, some real-life stories and consultations about shyness... along with many other matters related to this topic, with the aim of raising awareness about this important subject.