Observed shyness leads to more automatic imitation in early childhood

Abstract

The authors investigated children's automatic imitation in the context of observed shyness by adapting the widely used automatic imitation task (AIT). AIT performance in 6‐year‐old children (N = 38; 22 female; 71% White) and young adults (17–22 years; N = 122; 99 female; 32% White) was first examined as a proof of concept and to assess age‐related differences in responses to the task (Experiment 1). Although error rate measures of automatic imitation were comparable between children and adults, children displayed less reaction time interference than adults. Children's shyness coded from direct behavioral observations was then examined in relation to AIT scores (Experiment 2). Observed shyness at 5 years old predicted higher automatic imitation one year later. We discuss the latter findings in the context of an adaptive strategy. We argue that shy children may possess a heightened sensitivity to others’ motor cues and therefore are more likely to implicitly imitate social partners’ actions. This tendency may serve as a strategy to signal appeasement and affiliation, allowing for shy children to blend in and feel less inhibited in a social environment.

Expressions of shyness and theory of mind in children: A psychophysiological study

“…Of the existing works linking trait shyness and ToM, interpretations seem contingent on the relatively high level of social attentiveness that shy children appear to possess, and perhaps to some extent, on shy children's tendency to observe others rather than participating directly in social interaction (LaBounty et al, 2017;Lane et al, 2013;Wellman et al, 2011). Indeed, shy children are known to possess unique social cognitive strengths, which perhaps evolved as an adaptive mechanism for detecting social threat from unfamiliar conspecifics (Brunet et al, 2009;Hassan et al, 2021;LoBue & Perez-Edgar, 2014;MacGowan et al, 2021;Matsuda et al, 2013). However, theory surrounding the link between trait shyness and ToM may be extended to consider affect-specific heterogeneity in shyness given our present findings.…”

“…While it is reasonable to argue that trait shyness could lead to reticent behavior, impeding the acquisition of ToM by slowing the development of social cognitive understanding (De Rosnay, Fink, Begeer, Slaughter, & Peterson, 2014;Kokkinos, Kakarani, & Kolovou, 2016), the majority of existing literature has provided evidence that, in infancy and through the preschool years, trait shyness allows for a more observant and vigilant social style, resulting in higher ToM (LaBounty, Bosse, Savicki, King, & Eisenstat, 2017; Lane et al, 2013;Longobardi, Spataro, D'Alessandro, & Cerutti, 2017;Mink, Henning, & Aschersleben, 2014;Wellman et al, 2011b). Aside from work surrounding trait shyness and ToM, there is also evidence to suggest that shy children possess unique social-cognitive strengths, allowing for heightened detection of social threat (Brunet et al, 2009;Hassan et al, 2021;MacGowan, Mirabelli, Obhi, & Schmidt, 2021;LoBue & Perez-Edgar, 2014;MacGowan et al, 2021;Matsuda et al, 2013). Thus, trait shyness may support observation rather than direct interaction involving participation.…”

“…This clip was selected to be ageappropriate and engaging but did not include any strong emotions from the characters or any important plot points that would likely elicit emotional arousal in the child. This clip has been used previously to assess baseline RSA (Hassan et al, 2018;MacGowan et al, 2021;MacGowan & Schmidt, 2020, 2021a, 2021b.…”

The human fear paradox: Affective origins of cooperative care

“…For example, for some people, it may be adaptive to engage in avoidance of certain cooperative opportunities to protect their physiological vulnerability (e.g., low physiological regulatory capacity, high physiological reactivity; MacGowan & Schmidt, 2021a;Thompson & Calkins, 1996) or to avoid the possibility of performing a risky social blunder in the presence of high-status group members. In support of this notion, there has been some evidence to suggest that withdrawn behavior in early childhood and adulthood can result in social-cognitive strengths that appear to have evolved for the purpose of remaining vigilant of possible social threat (Brunet, Heisz, Mondloch, Shore, & Schmidt, 2009;LoBue & Perez-Edgar, 2014;MacGowan, Mirabelli, Obhi, & Schmidt, 2022b;Matsuda, Okanoya, & Myowa-Yamakoshi, 2013) and for blending in with the social environment (MacGowan et al, 2022b). Of course, we acknowledge that some expressions and manifestations of shyness may not be adaptive at all, and result in rejection and exclusion, such as when an adult's environment does not match what they experienced in childhood (Karasewich & Kuhlmeier, 2020).…”

Developmental and evolutionary models of social fear can address “the human fear paradox”

“…For example, for some people, it may be adaptive to engage in avoidance of certain cooperative opportunities to protect their physiological vulnerability (e.g., low physiological regulatory capacity, high physiological reactivity; MacGowan & Schmidt, 2021a; Thompson & Calkins, 1996) or to avoid the possibility of performing a risky social blunder in the presence of high-status group members. In support of this notion, there has been some evidence to suggest that withdrawn behavior in early childhood and adulthood can result in social-cognitive strengths that appear to have evolved for the purpose of remaining vigilant of possible social threat (Brunet, Heisz, Mondloch, Shore, & Schmidt, 2009; LoBue & Perez-Edgar, 2014; MacGowan, Mirabelli, Obhi, & Schmidt, 2022b; Matsuda, Okanoya, & Myowa-Yamakoshi, 2013) and for blending in with the social environment (MacGowan et al, 2022b). Of course, we acknowledge that some expressions and manifestations of shyness may not be adaptive at all, and result in rejection and exclusion, such as when an adult's environment does not match what they experienced in childhood (Karasewich & Kuhlmeier, 2020).…”