While little research has been done in the area of shyness and most of that has been descriptive, both theory and research suggest that investigation of expectancy of success and attributional style differences between shy and not-shy individuals is warranted. Very shy (N=49) or not-shy (N=48) female subjects, selected from an initial group of 698 male and female volunteers, interacted with a male and female confederate pair (posing as subjects) in order to examine the cognitive and emotional factors maintaining shyness. During interaction, the confederate pairs responded to female subjects positively, neutrally, or negatively, depending upon assigned condition. Shy and not-shy subjects completed the Social Evaluation Reaction Questionnaire prior to the interaction and the Attribution Questionnaire after the interaction. Analyses of results revealed that very shy women expected less positive outcomes from social interactions and interpreted such outcomes to fit their negative self-concepts. The findings suggest that given the shy woman's tendancy to interpret social situations in ways consistent with her negative self-concept, social success alone will not alter her shyness; the circle of expectation and interpretation itself must be altered. (Author/PAS)