Shyness is a psychological trait characterized by social inhibition and apprehension in response to new social environments or perceived social judgement. It is frequently associated with social avoidance. Although shyness can be an attribute of people who have low self-esteem, the trait is often defined by a concern regarding the negative evaluation of others, such as mocking or rejection. While shyness is considered a normal personality variant, it is distinct from clinical conditions such as social anxiety disorder, which involves impairment in daily functioning.