Skip to main content

The Social World of Behaviorally Inhibited Children: A Transactional Account

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Behavioral Inhibition

Abstract

In this chapter, we describe the social worlds of behaviorally inhibited children. We organize the review around a transactional model of development in which behavioral inhibition (BI) impacts children’s perceptions and interpretations of their social worlds, which in turn guide their behaviors. In parallel, the perceptions and interpretations of behavioral inhibition held by critical socialization partners (teachers, peers, parents) alter their behavior with behaviorally inhibited children. Although these transactions continue throughout the lifespan, we focus our review on childhood and adolescence in order to provide a detailed picture of the developmental milieu of behaviorally inhibited children. We describe social processes and interactions that foster continuity in expression of core behavioral inhibition traits, as well as those that promote discontinuity, noting similarities across key socialization contexts. We conclude with suggestions for future research that focus on the overlap of different socialization contexts (e.g., school, home), the basic mechanisms (e.g., attention) underlying behaviorally inhibited children’s experiences in naturalistic environments, and extending research beyond childhood and adolescence to understand the unique social worlds of individuals with a history of childhood behavioral inhibition across the lifespan.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Henderson, H.A., Green, E.S., Wick, B.L. (2018). The Social World of Behaviorally Inhibited Children: A Transactional Account. In: PĂ©rez-Edgar, K., Fox, N. (eds) Behavioral Inhibition. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98077-5_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics