Awkwardness is what happens in social interactions when you suddenly find yourself without a script to guide you through. It is characterized by feelings of self-consciousness, uncertainty, and discomfort.
Awkwardness seems to inhibit people, even when their moral values suggest they should speak up. But it has a positive role, alerting people to areas where their social norms are lacking or outdated.
People often blame themselves when things take a turn toward the awkward. But awkwardness is really a collective failure - people aren't awkward, situations are.
Awkwardness is often confused with embarrassment, but the two are different. Embarrassment relates to personal failings, while awkwardness stems from a lack of social guidance.
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