Which one of the following can create problems in Building interpersonal relationship?

The answer is A, Shyness. Shyness makes a person hold back from starting conversations, voicing views or showing warmth, so others read them as distant and rapport never forms. It blocks the two-way exchange that every relationship depends on.

• Emotional maturity (B): helps a person regulate reactions and handle disagreement calmly, which strengthens relationships rather than damaging them.
• Assertiveness (C): means stating your needs and views respectfully without dominating others. It builds trust. Only aggression, which is a different thing, harms relations.
• Empathy (D): lets you see a situation from the other person's side, which is the basis of trust and cooperation.

The core concept is interpersonal skills, which sit within emotional intelligence. For GS-IV (Ethics), this matters for a civil servant who must build trust with colleagues and the public, and for team leadership in administration.

Trap: Candidates sometimes pick assertiveness by confusing it with aggression or dominance. Assertiveness is a positive skill; the question is asking about the trait that withdraws from interaction.