Loneliness is pervasive and rising, particularly among the young

Re:Loneliness is pervasive and rising, particularly among th... by com2kid on Saturday September 01, 2018 @05:21PM (#17893932)

> Humans don't have a shred of innate social anxiety except perhaps in some odd pathological cases.

This is not true at all. Baby's, even at a few months old, run the gamut from excited to meet new people to shy and withdrawn around strangers.

I have a friend whose son, at 6 months old, was well socialized but completely uneager to interact with people he didn't know.

And I've met plenty of toddlers who hide behind their parents and don't come out, and plenty of toddlers who run up to everyone they come across and say "hi".

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Loneliness is pervasive and rising, particularly among th... by ryanmarsh on Saturday September 01, 2018 @09:25PM (#17894946)

Clinical social anxiety is much more than shyness.

Shyness and/or fear around strange adults is a healthy biological response. Even children raised in isolation and who show immediate fear of other new children are still quick to make friends when introduced to pre-school (a terrifying experience altogether).

Children who cannot be socialized effectively by around age four (5% of boys, a much smaller % of girls) usually end up punished explicitly by society in their later youth and early adulthood.

[ Parent | on HN ]