Pros of Shyness and Embarrassment

Charles Darwin wondered why people are shy: what evolutionary advantage did this “odd state of mind” provide, especially in social creatures? Darwin didn’t find an answer to the question, but was Joe Moran right in suspecting that:
“there might also be some value in their being cautious and risk-avoiding, traits that might over-evolve into excessive timidity.”

In recent centuries, as the rules of “polite society” were formed and lines were drawn about what was acceptable behaviour, especially with strangers, perhaps it opened up more reasons to be shy. After all:
“Shyness reminds us that all human interaction is fraught with ambiguity, and that insecurity and self-doubt are natural.”

Seth Godin once argued that we eliminate the word “embarrassment” from the language (he was saying this wrt our hesitance to trying something new, to taking a chance and possibly failing). He anticipated one argument in favour of embarrassment:
“One reason to avoid doing something is because it leads to embarrassment. A better reason is because it's not the right thing.”
I personally don’t see everyone acting based on a sense of right and wrong. Firstly, because it’s subjective. And secondly, it would be an unstable scenario: whoever cheats in such an environment would benefit, and so some fraction will definitely do the wrong thing.

Comments

  1. KumarJanuary 4, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    There are good points made. Not many analyze like this.

    Now, your finish line, "And secondly, it would be an unstable scenario: whoever cheats in such an environment would benefit, and so some fraction will definitely do the wrong thing" clearly says that any suggestion for doing things properly will not suit those who do not want to do what is proper. 'So why do it?' seems the implication.

    While it is true in a way, the aim and the methods of right conduct has to be propagated to those who wish to be proper. At least it is not reason enough to avoid talking about "good" just because some people prefer "bad".

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