Shyness and Society

Shyness and Society relocates an object of psychological interest in its social and cultural context. It draws on the author's research with self-defined 'shy' people, who describe their experiences of interaction and everyday life. Using Symbolic Interactionist theories, the book explores the social processes involved in becoming a 'shy person' and performing the shy self in public places. The question of interactional competence is discussed in relation to issues of identity, embodiment, performativity and deviance.