Shyness in children is often characterized by

Shyness in children is often characterized by

• A. poor eye contact, hiding, crying, or shutting down in unfamiliar contexts.
• B. hyperactivity in social contexts.
• C. aggressive behavior.
• D. indifference to social cues.

Answer: (A)

Shyness in children shows up as hesitation and distress in new or unfamiliar social settings. A child who is shy often avoids engaging with others, makes little or no eye contact, clings to a caregiver, hides, or becomes visibly upset—crying or withdrawing—when faced with new people or places. These behaviors reflect a cautious, safety-seeking response to novelty rather than a lack of interest in others. The other patterns don’t fit because hyperactivity in social contexts means high energy and active, sometimes disruptive behavior in social situations; aggression involves pushing or shouting and a tendency to dominate or fight; and indifference to social cues suggests a broader lack of responsiveness to others’ signals, which points to different developmental or social-communication concerns rather than typical shyness.

Shyness in children shows up as hesitation and distress in new or unfamiliar social settings. A child who is shy often avoids engaging with others, makes little or no eye contact, clings to a caregiver, hides, or becomes visibly upset—crying or withdrawing—when faced with new people or places. These behaviors reflect a cautious, safety-seeking response to novelty rather than a lack of interest in others.

The other patterns don’t fit because hyperactivity in social contexts means high energy and active, sometimes disruptive behavior in social situations; aggression involves pushing or shouting and a tendency to dominate or fight; and indifference to social cues suggests a broader lack of responsiveness to others’ signals, which points to different developmental or social-communication concerns rather than typical shyness.