Stereotypes of introverts as shrinking violets are inaccurate – introversion is about how people process outside stimuli, not about shyness!(Image from a public domain photo by Josch13/Pixabay)
Western society favours extroverts, especially when it comes to competitive spheres like business, academics, and sport. It’s often assumed that extroverts are simply successful at life in general, whereas introverts are shy, withdrawn, and less capable than those at the other end of the spectrum. I’ve even seen some writers who claim that introversion is some sort of reaction to a traumatic event – which also pretty much implies that introverts are defective and need to be cured. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
Introversion is a concept first introduced by Carl Jung. He described introverts as people whose energy is expanded through reflective activities and consumed through interaction. Jung also saw introversion as a focus on internal factors and subjective thoughts, rather than on comparison with external standards.
Introversion is just one of several factors in personality types that Jung identified. Jung’s theories have been further expanded upon and organized into a system of 16 different personality types that can be sorted using a Myers-Briggs personality inventory, a test now commonly used in career counselling to match the individual with suitable job options. We are also now beginning to see that the brains of introverts are wired differently from those of extroverts and that, far from being the result of a trauma or some sort of social or skills-based failure on the part of the introvert, the differences are related to the way our brains respond to certain chemicals and other stimuli. Introversion is not some kind of stunting of a person’s emotional or intellectual growth: it’s the way we were made. Yes, we were born this way!
The introvert is a self-starter, capable of feeling worthy without needing approval from any other person or authority. By contrast, the extrovert needs frequent feedback and praise in order to be happy. Competition, whether structured or unspoken, is a major source of self-esteem for the extrovert. When he encounters an introvert who dislikes the Western focus on being the biggest, the best, the strongest or the fastest, he automatically assumes there must be something wrong with that individual. He sees the introvert as shy, anti-social, weak, and unhappy.
Introverts make up roughly half the American population but are still seen as a less competent minority. In this article, I want to look at some of the more common assumptions that are made about being an introvert, and clear up some of the misunderstanding associated with this contemplative group of people.
Far too many people make the mistake of assuming that all introverts are shy. This is simply not true. An introvert may avoid crowds. An introvert may prefer a quiet dinner party to a night at a noisy dance club. An introvert may prefer a night in with a good book to going out to watch a movie with friends. But none of these are marks of shyness.
“Introverted” literally means turning inwards. So a classic introvert needs to spend time alone in order to think, to process the day’s events, and to contemplate life’s big questions. Introverts are simply interested in different things than extroverts are. And we need time alone to indulge those interests, in order to recharge our mental and emotional batteries.
This doesn’t mean that we shrink from social settings, but we are a bit more selective about which social activities we want to attend because they take away from other activities that are important to us. I want you to know that not liking big parties or crowded malls isn’t a sign of shyness. I’m a confirmed introvert – and also one who has debated, delivered a valedictory address before a packed concert hall, managed several public relations projects, taught enrichment classes at two world-class universities, and appeared on both radio and TV. Choosing small-group or solitary activities doesn’t mean I shrink from the public eye or that I’m afraid of social settings. They just aren’t the be all and end all of my existence.
My very introverted daughter is always being told by her friends to smile more. Extroverted people tend to assume that because introverts are more reserved with our emotions, we must be unhappy. But if anything, we’re happier than you are!
Introvert brains are more sensitive to dopamine than the brains of extroverts, so it takes less of it to make us happy. We’re also sensitive to acetylcholine (ACh) while extroverts hardly notice its effect. ACh is an organic chemical that gives a more subtle stimulation than dopamine; it also helps to promote REM sleep – during which dreams occur. Because our brains respond differently to these chemicals, we require less stimulation to be alert. We also don’t need to engage in risk-taking activities to be happy.
Introverts aren’t fond of large gatherings or noisy environments. As you read above, we don’t need the same type or amount of stimulation as extroverts in order to be alert or happy. But this doesn’t mean we’re antisocial.
Granted, if you judge sociability by a person’s ability to make small talk you will think we introverts don’t like other people very much. But what we don’t like isn’t the people: it’s the talk. We find idle chitchat boring and trivial, so it takes an effort to engage in that kind of conversation – just as you might find it tedious to discuss philosophy or to read a long blog post! Introverts are more gregarious in small groups of people we know. We also really come out of our shell when the conversation turns to a topic of interest – especially if we can discuss that topic in some depth.
There are many other misunderstandings about introversion. And even more built-in obstacles or biases against introverts in the institutions of our society – in schools, recreational activities and facilities, workplaces, and more. This TED Talk given by writer and lecturer Susan Cain names some of the world’s most notable introverts and takes a look at how we can change society to better accommodate both introverts and extroverts.
Rather than thinking of the introvert as a shrinking violet, it may be helpful to learn what introverts are really like. Here are some common personality traits of the average introvert:
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Not sure? You can take a free test to find out.
Original content © 2016 Kyla Matton Osborne
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View Comments
I think I am an introvert. I enjoy quite evenings at home rather than go to a crowded party. Excellent article about a confusing topic.
@lindakaazjennyheart2015 I think you're probably right, but if you want to know for sure you can try the quiz I linked in the article. The main test for an introvert is how you feel after being with people (i.e. do you need alone time to recharge your batteries?) But if you can identify with the traits I listed about, you are probably introverted.
I am an introvert. I hate being in crowded places. I hate noisy places. To loud or high pitch noises literally hurts my ears. Like when my daughter hums. I literally cringe, as it causes me pain to hear. I am not good in social settings. I am told I am too quiet or am stuck up because I won't talk. But would rather sit back and watch everyone instead. Much of that has to do with my hearing issues.
It sounds like you have some sensory issues in there, too. But what you're describing definitely sounds introverted.
I enjoyed your article, a topic that is not discussed, but should be. I am an AMBIVERT but suspect I was introverted growing up.
Susan, there are some people who fall pretty much in the middle (ambiverts.) But Susan Cain also talks a lot about people who are introverted and who have been taught to act like extroverts. I guess the best test for that is not so much how you behave, but rather how you feel and think.
A true ambivert would sometimes find it energizing to be with others, to be in loud places, to engage in highly competitive activities, etc. The ambivert would also sometimes find comparison with an external standard or receiving positive feedback from others to be as important as (or more important than) any internal sense of "rightness."
I've recognized for quite some time that I'm an introvert, much closer to the end of the scale than mid-range. The information here about introverts' brains being more sensitive to dopamine and acetylcholine now has me curious about a possible relationship between introversion and panic/anxiety. I wonder if that correlation has ever been evaluated.
I'm not sure whether that link has been studied, Deb. I Googled "introversion depression anxiety" and wasn't able to find anything scholarly. It would be interesting to see someone look into rates of depression and panic or anxiety disorders in extroverts vs introverts.
On the one hand, it could be we'd see lower levels of both types of disorder in introverts because we can function well with lower levels of dopamine. But that could also work against us if we end up functioning with less dopamine than is necessary to prevent depression. A similar question would come up with acetylcholine: if we're more sensitive to it, does that mean we could experience symptoms of anxiety or depression at much lower levels than for extroverts?
Great line of questioning! I hope you'll be able to suggest research in this area to someone who would be interested in following up on it.
Personally speaking, I am both introvert and extrovert person. It doesn't mean that I have a split personality. I can change my mode of communicating with other people depending on what kind of personality they are.
When I was in my younger years, I am introvert. Then I need to come out from my comfort zone to socialize different sets of people. It requires for my profession to deal with people. Thus, I can be an extrovert.
@shavkat There are some people who are in the middle of the spectrum between introvert and extrovert. I know at least one other person who identifies as an ambivert, and another who probably is one.