Shyness Test: the Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale
Everyone feels shy now and then, but some people experience shyness more strongly or more often than others. The Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale is a 13-question test that measures how shy or socially uncomfortable you feel around others.
Free to try · Responses are private & encrypted
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What does the Shyness Test Assessment cover?
The Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale covers 13 statements about feeling tense with unfamiliar people, social awkwardness and difficulty in conversations, rated by how characteristic each is of you, producing a score from not shy to very shy.
Who is this Shyness Test Assessment for?
Helpful if you:
😳 Feel tense or awkward around people you do not know well
🚪 Avoid conversations or social events
📝 Have been asked by your therapist to complete this
For therapists:
Assign the Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale to gauge trait shyness at the start of social anxiety or confidence work and to track change. Results are stored securely for review before your next session. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Dr Harriet Mellotte
Clinical Psychologist & CBT Therapist, BABCP
“Offload is a fantastic resource for both clients and therapists. The world of CBT has been lacking an app which enables the sharing of CBT worksheets and homework tasks between clients and therapists, but Offload completely does this, making the service we offer more professional and the benefits to clients greater.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale?
The Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale is a 13-question measure of how tense, inhibited or awkward you feel around other people, particularly those you do not know well. It has been used in personality and social anxiety research for decades and takes a couple of minutes to complete.
Is shyness the same as social anxiety?
No. Shyness is a common personality trait and many shy people live full social lives. Social anxiety disorder involves intense fear of judgement that leads to avoidance and significant distress. Very high shyness scores can overlap with social anxiety, so if shyness is limiting your life, the Social Anxiety Test and mini course are worth a look.
Can shyness be changed?
Shyness is partly temperament, but how much it limits you is very workable. Gradual practice in social situations, dropping safety behaviours such as rehearsing every sentence, and questioning predictions about how others will react all reduce its impact. CBT-based approaches have a strong evidence base for social confidence.
Can professionals assign this test to their clients?
Yes. Therapists on Offload can assign the Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale to gauge trait shyness at the start of social confidence work and to track change. Results are stored securely and available to review before the next session. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Are you a therapist?
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