We all need to feel a sense of belonging, but modern social life can make even the best of us feel gawky. For the socially awkward, navigating social life is especially overwhelming—an ongoing maze that seems to have no exit. Often unable to grasp social cues or readily master the skills and grace necessary for smooth interactions, awkward people can feel out of sync with those around them. Awkward people may recognize they have awkward dispositions, but they have trouble understanding why that is—which makes it hard for them to navigate the complexities of social life.
In this presentation, psychologist Ty Tashiro translates research from social psychology, child development, and clinical psychology to explain the characteristics of socially awkward people, how it develops, and how it relates to belonging and wellbeing. He considers how awkward people view our complex world and explains how they can more comfortably navigate it, and delivers a welcome, counterintuitive message: the same characteristics that make people socially clumsy can be harnessed to produce remarkable achievements.
Taken together, this basic and applied research on social awkwardness provides us with valuable insights about how awkward people can embrace their personal quirks and unique talents to harness their awesome potential.