Shyness & Anxiety: A Review of Literature

Gilberto E. Rodriguez
University of Texas at El Paso

Introduction
This literature review will brush over the confliction of shyness due to anxiety and the methods to overcome this phenomena.
Key questions will be provided along with selected sources to answer the questions without giving any bias opinion outside the
use of the sources statements by their authors. The text will over the opinions, concepts, and philosophies of reliable researchers
to answer argue with critical questions over the topic of text. All statements and comments will be purely based on respectably on
the words of their authors and will be used to compare and contrast.

Question 1: What is the cause of psychological shyness from in anxiety in society according to researchers?
Question 2: What are the methods of overcoming anxiety in order to become more social according to researchers?

What is the cause of psychological shyness from in anxiety in society according to researchers?
According to Robert Kelseys book, Whats Stopping You Being More Confident? Kelsey emphasizes having strong
self-esteem is key to ones social communication and confidence. The reasoning of self-esteem being the cause for anxiety and
shyness is logical since he points them out to be If self-esteem is a direction of travel rather than a destination, confidence is no
more than one of the tools we use for the journey. In other words, if a persons tools are weak or fragile, theyll most likely not
be as efficient. This would mean that a persons lack of self-esteem wares them down to become shyer. Kelseys final point is
stating that the leading cause to shyness would originate from the lack of self-esteem to which causes anxiety. Kelsey is able to
use logos to successfully pull his statement across. By correlating self-esteem as the direction of travel rather than a
destination and stating that confidence is one of the tools we use for the journey, Kelsey is able to make a logical
connection to which the reader can easily understand. As the reader imagines self-esteem being a certain location to which must
be found, confidence could be seen as the compass that will guild one to their destination. Through this conclusion, Kelseys
rhetorical appeal allows the reader to easily grasp the concept of his claim with better insight through his metaphor.
Following author Sheila Keegans research over the psychological patterns of anxiety in her book The Psychology of Fear
in Organizations, she states that Fear and uncertainty are the backdrop against which this book is set, and fear is the emotion
that many of us try the hardest to avoid; although paradoxically we may also court it.. In other words, Keegan claims that fear is
the cause of anxiety. She claims this only is logically as it is simply instinct to avoid unnecessary burdens to which being socially
open and friendly is connected to. She explains that participating in communication is the hidden depths of our fears. But here
reasoning differentiates from Kelseys in the sense that its the fear of burden rather than the unknown. In conclusion to her
argument, Keegan claims that the fear and uncertainty are the reasons to which people develop anxiety, and with anxiety comes
shyness. Keegans use of rhetorical appeal revolves around logos as she states fear is the emotion that many of us try the
hardest to avoid; although paradoxically we may also court it where its logical to relate fear to be a negative element, but is
ironically something that some of us may crave. As the reader takes a moment to digest this statements, they could correlate
someone courting fear because of feeling having some form of delight. Although enjoying fear
may be a strange phenomenon, its definitely a real appeal to many individuals, making Keegans
reasoning on why fear can be a paradox is such a boggling idea.
While conducting a personal interview with Yvonne Dominguez, a school counselor or
North Start Elementary School, she claimed various reasonings to why people develop anxiety
providing four common examples shes seen.

1. Family History of violence where you view society as a threat.

https://icmhd.wordpres
s.com/2013/09/30/dom
estic-violence-againstwomen-and-migration2/
Family violence is one
of the causes of
anxiety. These
experiences could lead

2.

Humiliating/Traumatic experiences leading to Generalized Anxiety Disorder and PTSD.

3.

Family Dynamics

4.

Unaffectionate Families: where love and affection is not given. It is not the norm to

express feelings. Yvonne states that students with anxiety typically have multiple factors to why it
has become so severe but commonly correlated to an individual being emotionally torn as a child
through psychological stress. This stress mainly is from alienation from peers, dysfunctional
families, and being neglected. Dominguezs claims differ from Keegan and Kelseys in the
context that the alienation of peers is and family conflict is the cause of anxiety. She also
differs from all the two by claiming that there are typically a multitude of reasons leading up

http://www.peakneurofitn
ess.com/symptomsdecreased/ptsd
PTSD is a serious
psychological condition
developed by terrifying
events. Symptoms
include severe anxiety.

to anxiety. Ms. Dominguez make use of pathos and ethos for rhetorical appeals as she
elaborated throughout our session with vivid examples, empathizing with her students
experiences, thus creating pathos as a result. Dominguez also provides ethos throughout every claim as she is a licensed
counselor who has dealt with children with anxiety, making her claims beyond tenable tenable, showing ethos through
credibility.
An article through The Balochistan Times, Anxiety, depression destroys brain effectiveness claims that anxiety and
depression can cause havoc in a persons general health and is one of the reasons why people develop shyness. According to
the article, Depression and anxiety is caused due to a number of factors. The leading causes are some kind of tragedy such as a
loss of a loved one, divorces, failure in profess drugs used for illnesses, where its claimed that there are multiple reasons to why
an individual may develop anxiety. It specifically provides the leading factors that causes anxiety are correlated to trauma,
whether it be emotional or physical. From this claim, developed anxiety leads an individual being more to themselves, thus
creating shyness in the process. This claim differs from all other sources as The Balochistan Times claims trauma is the leading
cause of anxiety, to which shyness is developed. However, this articles claim that there are always a multitude of reasons that
lead to anxiety is comparable to the Dominguezs claim. Although their specific reasons are different, the idea that there are
multiple reasons for anxiety is similar. The rhetorical appeals found in this article are based on both pathos logos as the articles
states The leading causes are some kind of tragedy such as a loss of a loved one, divorces, failure in profess drugs, providing
sensible reasons that the reader could logically agree on. Where the reader could too have experienced the loss of a loved one or
have dealt with divorce, allowing them to empathize and come to reason that those explanations are logical based on personal
experience. Thus creating both logos and pathos.
However, the authors of the book Avoiding Communication: Shyness, Reticence, and Communication Apprehension
would beg to differ. They claim that there are actually two types of shyness: anxious shyness and self-conscious shyness.

Although there is a minute difference between the two, they both share the trend of anxiety by both shyness. These authors claim
Anxious shyness refers to being afraid when dealing with others face to face. Self-conscious shyness refers to feeling
conspicuous and psychologically exposed when with others they also differ in when they first occur during development, their
immediate causes, their enduring causes, and the personality trait related to them.. In other words, there are four considerable
areas where anxiety is developed. These authors claim negative experiences during an individuals development as an infant is
the one of the origins to anxiety. The others follow through immediate causes to which are negative first-time interactions of
which traumatize an individual and causes anxiety. As well as enduring causes to which an individual is continuously exposed to
a negative experience or time frame of which psychologically harms them, developing anxiety in the process. And finally the
authors claim that there are natural personality traits carried within every individual to which leaves them more exposed to
feeling anxiety. This source is similar to both Dominguezs and the Balochistan times in the sense that there are actually multiple
reasons for those to lead up to having anxiety. This Avoiding Communications book could also be related to all other sources
due to the vague and non -specific reasons to the causes of anxiety. These relations could be found in Kocovskis reasoning,
where fear is actually considered an immediate cause. And could also to share relation to Kelseys reasoning, as selfesteem issues could be related to enduring causes. This book makes use of logos as a rhetorical appeal as they state
shyness refers to feeling conspicuous and psychologically exposed when with others, revolving purely on logical facts and
claims throughout their entire book. As the reader carefully takes into consideration the aspect of what anxiety really is, being
able to make a logical connection to what anxiety really means could allow the reader to consider would the type of experience
would feel like and be more closely familiar with the idea. And thus logos are developed through these straight forward facts and
statements.

What methods have researchers conducted in order to overcome the fear of anxiety?
According to James Gardner and Arthur H. Bell in their book Overcoming anxiety, panic, and depression: New ways
to regain your confidence, anxiety is a phenomenon that could be cured through social therapy.
Identify the source of your stress by making a list of problem areas in your life. Then, make a plan of how you will address each
problem and work on its resolution. Now take your plan to those you trusta friend, a family member, your doctor, or your spiritua
l leaderand get some feedback as you form your plan of action. Get professional advice (from a lawyer, accountant, financial plan
ner, etc.) on those items that require information or skills that you don't have. As Gardner and Bell provide a procedure and list
of methods on how to aid those with anxiety issues, their methods all round up to becoming more in touch with loved ones. Their
claim is that since close family and friends are the most valuable source for someone with anxiety to open up to, practicing being
more social with people who they can talk to will allow them to open up more for new people around them. To sum it up,

Gardner and Bell claim that those with anxiety should try socializing more in order to overcome or at the very least ease their
social anxiety. And better availability to practice socializing than through close family and friends. The rhetorical appeals
Gardner and Bell use revolve around both pathos and logo. As anxiety could be related to discussing a sensitive topic, being able
to relate with or talk about these topics with close friends and loved ones allows the reader to empathize with how it must feel
like to have anxiety all the time. Feel like every topic is sensitive and nerve racking would allow a reader who does not suffer
from anxiety be able to relate to someone who does and would think to feel more comfortable talking to close loved ones, thus
pathos is formed. As for logos, it would be logical to be able to relate to friends and loved ones. Typically to categorize
individuals as close or loved may mean that they are most trustworthy. And logically if someone is more trustworthy there is a
higher chance to be more open to them, thus creating logos.
However, according to Dr. Michael Tompkins in their book Anxiety and Avoidance: A Universal Treatment for
Anxiety, Panic, and Fear, the best method to overcoming anxiety is to simply jump right into ones discomfort zone. Dr.
Tompkins claims Stepping toward discomfort is learning o face, rather than turn away from, your anxious response. As you face
your anxious response, youll grow more confident and less anxious Researchers have demonstrated over many years than
facing our fears now helps us feel less fearful in the future. This means that someone who suffers from anxiety should simply
throw themselves into whatever makes them uncomfortable and just get used to it. Dr. Tomkins elaborates that although this
suggested method is rather straight forward, it has been proven posit throughout history. Ultimately Dr. Tomkins stand to say
the best method for overcoming anxiety would simply be to face the music until you simply get over it. Tomkins claim differs
completely from Gardner as James states that close family and friends is essential to successfully overcoming anxiety. Gardner
emphasizes that the only opening for someone with anxiety to be cured is for them to talk it out and socialize with their loved
ones, while Dr. Tomkins simply claims to throw yourself in front of the train of anxiety to find out it was all just in your head.
Dr. Tomkins use of rhetorical appeal is based only on logos where he states As you face your anxious response, youll grow
more confident and less anxious, making a logical connection to the reader where experience leads to a casual routine. As the
reader makes the conclusion that simply going through whatever makes a person anxious as an experience, theyll only become
more and more used to the feeling until its nothing more an a normal factor to them, and thus logos is developed.
While conducting a personal interview with Yvonne Dominguez, she provided several methods on how to overcome
anxiety. The methods that she provided within our interview were based on Individual Therapy, Group Therapy, and Medication.
She claims that Individual Therapy requires Challenging Negative Thoughts. As she provided an example, " I have a work
presentation coming up. I just know I am going to blow it! Everyone is going to think I am incompetent and I dont belong
here. Create a list of positive thoughts or have positive self-talk. Instead of the aforementioned one might say the following:
There is a lot of information its ok if you forgot you can always go back and provide that to your audience. I am going to do

the best I can and that is ok. Where she states state positive thing is the key to successfully
overcoming anxiety individually and independently. While considering Dominguezs method on
Group Therapy, Group therapy follows Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) but individuals
work together. For instance, role-playing, mock interviews, acting, videotaping, and other
exercises that create social situations that will help you overcome your anxiety., where she
claims that being playful in social activities with another individual or group is key to
overcoming anxiety. And finally through her method on medication, she recommends the
use of beta blockers for the use of relieving performance

http://lifescapesolutions.co
m/utilizing-group-therapyovercome-addiction/
Group therapy is one of
the most recommended
treatments. This method
has shown phenomenal
results.

anxiety, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines. In conclusion through the interview, Dominguez

claims there are plenty of alternate methods in controlling and working with anxiety to which are
not wrong but definitely vary from person to person. Dominguezs methods differ from both Dr.
http://en.paperblog.co
m/challengingnegative-thoughts321131/
Challenging negative
ideas has proven to
create positive
psychological energy.
This method proves

Tomkins and Bells as she claims that there truly is not one simple method to overcoming
anxiety but a plentiful variety with many resources and alternatives to which vary in effect
depending on the person. In addition to our interview, after showing her this literature reviews
other sources, she expostulated against Dr. Tompkins methods entirely.

Conclusion
It could be concluded that there are actually a variety a reasons to why anxiety is caused and is correlated to shyness in society.
Looking for specific and straight forward answers is not always the case and research to find what causes anxiety proves it.
Anxiety could be found anywhere throughout ones life, but seems to always find an origin within ones alienation or traumatic
experiences. While looking into a method on resolving anxiety, it could be concluded that there is also no one method on how to
cure, or at the very most ease anxiety. But in turn for only finding one method in particular, it turns out there are a variety of ways
to help individuals with anxiety, founding a much brighter and hopeful future for those who struggle with anxiety as it goes to
show that help truly is out there.

References
Kelsey, R. (2013). Whats Stopping You Being More Confident? (1st ed). Mindset Safety Trap 2-3. Retrieved from: http://0proquest.safaribooksonline.com.lib.utep.edu/9780857083197?uicode=utxelpaso
Keegan, S. (03 Feb, 2015). The Psychology of Fear in Organizations: How to Transform Anxiety into Well-being, Productivity
and Innovation. The climate of fear 6-7. Retrieved from: http://www.utep.eblib.com/patron/FullRecord.aspx?
p=1931714
Yang, X., Kendrick, K., Wu, Q., Chen, T., Lama, S., Cheng, B., Li, S., Huang, X., and Gong, Q. (2013) Structural and
Functional Connectivity Changes in the Brain Associated with Shyness. Vol. 8 Issue 5, p1-13. 13p. Retrieved from:
http://0-web.b.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost/detail/detail?sid=80dc00fd-ad2d-4393-8666-9123e5726c0e
%40sessionmgr112&vid=0&hid=123&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=a9h&AN=883756
04
Gardner, J., Bell, A. (2012) Overcoming anxiety, panic, and depression: New ways to regain your confidence. Do I have panic or
anxiety disorder? pg. 24-30. Retrieved from: http://0-web.b.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost/detail/detail?
sid=fdcb09b5-a671-4285-b247f9cac99b3fa0%40sessionmgr111&vid=0&hid=118&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=nleb
k&AN=25134
Tompkins, M (2013) Anxiety and Avoidance: A Universal Treatment for Anxiety, Panic, and Fear. Stepping Toward Discomfort.
Pg. 105-115. Retrieved from: http://www.utep.eblib.com/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=1323691
Dominguez, Y (March 14, 2015). School Counselor. North Star Elementary School, El Paso, TX. Conducted with personal
interview.
Daly, J., Mccroskey, J., Ayres, J., Hopf, T., Sonandre, D., and Wongprasert, T. (2009) Avoiding Communication: Shyness,
Reticence, and Communication Apprehension. 3rd Edition. Hardcopy Book. Anxious and Self-Conscious Shyness, Pg.
129-148
(May 5, 2013 Sunday). Anxiety, depression destroys brain effectiveness. News Paper article. The Balochistan Times (AsiaNet),
Retrieved from: www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/Inacademic