Peer Group Antecedents of Severe Love‐shyness in Males

Abstract

Love‐shyness is a degree of inhibition and reticence with the opposite sex that is sufficiently severe to preclude participation in courtship, marriage and family roles Love‐shyness is believed to be the result of a genetic‐biologically rooted temperament and learning experiences with peers and family Two love‐shy groups (an older one and a younger one) were compared to a nonshy group on several variables pertaining to past peer group history, recreational proclivities, etc The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire was also administered to all subjects The love‐shys' recalled going through life as social isolates and outcasts and experienced very stressful and nonsupportive relationships with agemate peers In contrast to the non‐shys who recalled suffering very little bullying at the hands of agemate peers, the love‐shys formative years were recalled as having been fraught with victimization by bullies The implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations are offered