What Ty Tashiro has said about Social awkwardness
5 quotes · 1 episode · Sep 25, 2026
Ty Tashiro, Psychologist and social scientist, author of Awkward: The Science of Why We're Socially Awkward and Why That's Awesome, has been quoted on Social awkwardness 5 times in 1 episode of TED Radio Hour, most recently on September 25, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Tashiro argues that awkward people are characterized by social skill deficits, communication difficulties, and obsessive interests.
“So awkward people have social skill deficits. They have a hard time knowing what's expected in the social situation and also have a hard time executing the right social skill”
TED Radio Hour: Life can be so awkward. Here's how to embrace the embarrassing (Sep 25, 2026) · Listen from 8:30
Tashiro uses an analogy in which awkward people see the social stage spotlighted slightly off-center, missing key social information but gaining unusual perspective.
“awkward people, by comparison, see that same stage not broadly illuminated, but spotlighted. And to make things interesting, that spotlight tends to fall a little left of center”
TED Radio Hour: Life can be so awkward. Here's how to embrace the embarrassing (Sep 25, 2026) · Listen from 12:45
Tashiro says awkward people are routine-focused and can feel panicked when their structures are disrupted.
“And although any of us can get a little frustrated when our routines get interrupted, awkward people can get really bent out of shape about that”
TED Radio Hour: Life can be so awkward. Here's how to embrace the embarrassing (Sep 25, 2026) · Listen from 16:10
Tashiro claims there is a robust correlation between awkward characteristics and striking talent or extraordinary achievement.
“there's this curious correlation that's pretty robust between awkward characteristics and what psychologists would call striking talent or extraordinary achievement”
TED Radio Hour: Life can be so awkward. Here's how to embrace the embarrassing (Sep 25, 2026) · Listen from 19:38
Tashiro recommends his parents' advice that awkward people should figure out how to fit in without losing themselves.
“hey, Ty, so the key is figuring out how to fit in without losing yourself. And I think that's such great advice”
TED Radio Hour: Life can be so awkward. Here's how to embrace the embarrassing (Sep 25, 2026) · Listen from 21:00
Episodes
Life can be so awkward. Here's how to embrace the embarrassingTED Radio Hour · Sep 25, 2026 · 50 min
Manoush Zomorodi talks with Ty Tashiro, Liana Finck, Melissa Dahl and Erin Chen about awkwardness, embarrassment, cringe and talking openly about sex.
Others on Social awkwardness
- Liana Finck · 1 quote
Ty Tashiro on other topics
- Autism spectrum · 2 quotes