LAUSR

A few years ago while my third daughter was still in medical school, I visited her in Nashville. During that trip we had a conversation in which she was telling me about this great friend she met. However, she said although they got along great when they were alone, it was a very different situation when they were in the presence of others. She said her friend was shy, did not say much, and made no significant contribution to any conversation when others were present. I wondered aloud whether that friend of my daughter had a split personality. Although I was talking to myself, my daughter responded and said no. She is the same person. She makes great contributions to any topic when they were alone, but in the presence of others she was shy, felt ineffective, and behaved as though her opinionswere better explained by otherswho are present. I asked her which of these behaviors she preferred and which she believed would serve her friend best long term in life.