Shyness - Is this inherited and in your genes?

[Suzannew]

As a child I was painfully shy and lacked self confidence.  This has never really changed and in adulthood I am not extrovert and have low self-esteem.  There are certain situations where I have to force myself to do things because I am not naturally assertive.  I have twin daughters aged 13 and I did everything I could when they were small to try and make them socialable, outgoing and confident girls but I can see that they are going to be just like me.  They are quiet, not particularly outgoing and shy.  They do have friends but are always happy to take the back seat.  Friends who I have who are loud and extrovert have gone on to have confident children.  I really believe shyness is inherited?  Anyone else experience the same.  (my husband is fairly quiet too)

[smeghead81]

i like lifelearner's ideology on focusing on the pros of being shy... shyness is not a weakness, i think that the bolder people can intimidate the quieter ones, and so this makes shy people think that they should be like everyone else around them: loud, flamboyant and persuasive... Not so, many people i know who are quiet are outgoing anyway and easy to get on with.