Bernardo J. Carducci and Lisa Kaiser: Shyness: The Ultimate Teen Guide

Abstract

Shyness: The Ultimate Teen Guide was written by Dr. Bernardo Carducci, a professor of psychology at Indiana University Southeast and his colleague, Lisa Kaiser. It is part of an edited book series that focuses on various illnesses, psychological concepts, and lifestyle choices relevant to adolescents and young adults. The book provides information about shyness and self-help strategies to become ‘‘successfully shy,’’ that is, effective management of shyness so it does not impede one’s goals. It was primarily written for shy teenagers, but also for people who are close to a shy teenager (e.g., friends and caregivers) and researchers. The book is comprised of three parts. Part I: Getting to Know Shy Teens normalizes shyness, describes the heterogeneity of people who are shy, and discusses the etiology of shyness. It explains that there is nothing wrong with feeling shy and that shyness is just one small part of an individual’s identity. Part II: What it Feels Like to Be Shy describes the phenomenology of shyness including the physiological manifestations of anxiety, destructive thought patterns typical of shy adolescents, and how shyness can adversely impact one’s self-worth. Readers are taught how to change their reactions to interpersonal situations so they are not hindered by them. Part III: Becoming a Successfully Shy Teen provides practical guidance for making friends, dating, navigating school and college, using social media, and reducing bullying. Overall, the book provides a compassionate and accessible integration of theoretically and empirically informed approaches to managing shyness. The book appears to be designed for typically developing teens as there is no mention of individuals with autism or other developmental disorders. However, the information and skills provided are widely applicable. Readers may become more self-aware and empowered to ‘‘take control of shyness’’ by building on their strengths and interests. Although the book provides a healthy dose of encouragement to shy teens, it balances this appropriately with realistic expectations. The text is enhanced with pictures, self-assessment inventories, reflective questions, structured exercises, and personal accounts of shyness. We like the structure the author provides for skills like small talk, problem-solving, and expanding one’s comfort zone. For shy teenagers, and for individuals with developmental disorders in particular, breaking down complex interpersonal situations into steps can be invaluable. Because individuals with a higher severity of shyness, otherwise known as social anxiety (American Psychiatric Association 2013), are more likely to buy and read the book, it is important for the readership to know of the availability and efficacy of mental health treatment targeting this concern. Psychotherapy can help teenagers implement the strategies outlined in the book, many of which are based on cognitive–behavioral approaches such as gradual exposure and the importance of practice (Lebowitz and Omer 2013; Walkup et al. 2008). The authors mention the use of medication to treat anxiety but downplay its significance in favor of self-awareness and behavioral strategies. We agree with this sentiment for individuals with low to moderate levels of shyness; however, this statement implies to us that the author may be underestimating the severity of social anxiety and its clinical correlates (e.g., depression and suicidality) in the & Eli R. Lebowitz eli.lebowitz@yale.edu