What is the difference between shyness and social phobia?

Shyness is a normal personality trait that does not necessarily warrant treatment. Social phobia, on the other hand, is a psychiatric disorder characterized by anxiety in one or more social or performance situations. Previously termed 'social anxiety disorder,'the characteristics of social phobia include "a marked and persistent fear in one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be humiliating or embarassing (APA, 2000)." Unlike people who are shy, the person with social phobia likely experiences significant impairment in their daily functioning at work, school, or with friends and family. Associated symptoms may include situationally bound panic attacks in adults or, in children, crying, tantrums, freezing, or shrinking from social situations. Adults recognize that their fear is excessive while children ...  more