What Does It Mean if a Shy Boy Ignores You?

A shy boy might be ignoring you because he likes you.
... David De Lossy/Photodisc/Getty Images

If a shy boy ignores you, you might wonder if that is a sign of attraction or that he is just nervous in general. Take stock of whether he ignores you more than other people, and if he seems particularly fidgety in your presence, and you might have a better clue as to what he is thinking.

1 He Likes You

If a shy boy likes you, he might feel very nervous in your presence, notes the Social Issues Research Centre's "Guide to Flirting." Most shy people don't take the opportunity to flirt, but rather clam right up around those people they like. If you spend enough time around him, he might eventually reveal his true feelings. Be prepared for a waterfall of emotions if this happens. Shy people sometimes move too quickly after a period of holding back -- because of their lack of "social know-how," asserts psychology professor Bernardo Carducci in the "Psychology Today" article, "Shyness: The New Solution."

2 He Is Just Shy

Sometimes things are just what they seem -- and it is possible a shy boy is ignoring you simply because people make him nervous in general, as discussed by Carducci in the Shyness Research Institute article, "Are There Different Types of Shyness?" Look to see if he ignores everybody else too. If so, that is a good sign that his behavior is just the norm for him, and has nothing to do with you.

Arlin Cuncic has been writing about mental health since 2007, specializing in social anxiety disorder and depression topics. She served as the managing editor of the "Journal of Attention Disorders" and has worked in a variety of research settings. Cuncic holds an M.A. in clinical psychology.

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