The upside of being shy

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Being self-conscious may actually say good things about you: A recent study found that people who are easily embarrassed appear to be more trustworthy and faithful. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, filmed participants and asked them to tell a story about when they felt very embarrassed. When another group watched the videos, they considered the highly embarrassed participants to have more consideration for the welfare of others than their less embarrassed counterparts. Lead author and PhD student Matthew Feinberg says the research may help people make friends. "Although most people dread feeling embarrassed, it actually benefits us in our social lives, helping us form trusting relationships."