Typological measures of shyness: Additive, interactive, and categorical

A typological model of shyness as neurotic-introversion has been suggested but never evaluated. We compared the ability of two direct measures of trait-shyness (Revised Shyness scale, Social Anxiety scale) and two typological measures (additive and interactive versions of neurotic-introversion) to predict peer-rated shyness and talk-time in leaderless groups. One hundred and twenty participants, initially unacquainted, met in small weekly discussion groups. At weeks 2 and 7, participants rated their group members on current shyness and talk-time. The two direct-measures and the additive typological measure showed substantial validities at both points in time. Although not as effective, Introversion was predictive at both times but Neuroticism only at Time 2. Little support was found for either the interactive or categorical measure. (C) 1998 Academic Press.