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Are you shy? If you
are, you are not alone. In fact, close to 50 percent of people are shy. Almost
80 percent of people feel shy at some point in their lives. These days, shyness
is becoming more and more common. Now, scientists are trying to understand shyness.
They have some interesting ideas about why people are shy.
Is it possible to be
born shy? Many scientists say yes. They say 15 to 20 percent of babies behave
shyly. These babies are a little quieter and more watchful than other babies.
Interestingly, these shy babies usually have shy parents. As a result,
scientists think that some shyness is genetic.
Family size might
cause people to be shy as well. Scientists at Harvard University studied shy
children. They found that 66 percent of them had older brothers and sisters. As
a result, they became shy. At the same time, children with no brothers and
sisters may be shy as well. Growing up alone, they often play by themselves.
They are not able to learn the same social skills as children from big families.
You may also be shy
because of where you were born. When scientists studied shyness in different
countries. They found surprising differences. In Japan, most people said they
were shy. But in Israel, only one of three people said so. What explains the difference?
One scientist says the Japanese and Israelis have different opinions of
failure. In Japan, when people do not succeed, they feel bad about themselves.
They blame（责备）themselves for their
failure. In Israel, the opposite is true. Israelis often blame failure on
outside reasons, such as family, teachers, friends, or bad luck. In Israel,
freedom of opinion and risk taking are strongly supported. This may be why
Israelis worry less about failure and are less shy.
For shy people, it can be difficult to
make friends, speak in class, and even get a good job. But scientists say you can
get over your shyness. They suggest trying new things and practicing
conversation. And don't forget — if you are shy, you are not the only one.
