Chinese Children’s Conceptions of Shyness: A Prototype Approach

Abstract

Three studies were conducted to explore Chinese children’s understanding of shyness. In Study 1 (N = 174, M age = 10.18) interviews with Chinese children revealed a group of diverse attributes that characterized their conceptions of shyness. In Study 2 (N = 273, M age = 10.19) a rating procedure was used to identify attributes that were prototypical of a Chinese shy child. Study 3 (N = 216, M age = 10.24) explored the typology and dimensions underlying Chinese children’s descriptions of a shy child by asking them to compare and rate the similarity of shyness attributes derived in Study 1 and Study 2. The findings suggest that there are both cultural similarities and variations in children’s conceptions of shyness.