Psychologists of varying theoretical persuasions have long held that social experiences are critical to normal developmental trajectories and that the lack of such experiences is worthy of compensatory attention. Surprisingly, however, little empirical attention has been directed to the study of the psychological significance of social solitude for children. In an effort to shed new light on the meanings and developmental course of social solitude in childhood, a group of esteemed scholars from Europe and North America was invited to share and exchange information. An international audience of researchers actively involved in the study of social withdrawal and social inhibition or shyness in childhood was led in discussion by the scholars whose chapters are published in this volume. The editors hope that this offering stimulates continuing efforts to better understand the developmental meanings, causes, and courses of this childhood social dysfunction.

Das psychologische Konstrukt der sozialen Gehemmtheit wird aus dem alltagspsychologischen Konzept der Schuchternheit abgeleitet und erstmals aus differential- und entwicklungspsychologischer Sicht systematisch untersucht. Eine Langsschnittstudie mit Kindern und mehrere Untersuchungen an Erwachsenen zeigen, dass soziale Gehemmtheit schon im Kindergartenalter ein relativ stabiles Personlichkeitsmerkmal ist, das in fremdartigen und sozial-evaluativen Situationen wirksam wird und eine deutliche Kontinuitat zwischen dem Kindes- und dem Erwachsenenalter aufweist.