2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43
We often hear people use the concepts of "introversion" and "introvert" in a judgmental and accusatory manner. With reference to myself: "I am an introvert, apparently, you need to come to terms with loneliness", in relation to another: "Well, everything is clear with him, he is such an introvert, you don't even have to try to get through to him."
Explaining to himself the nature of his psychological difficulties, a person refers to introversion as the source of all troubles and as if everything immediately becomes clear. In fact, no, it does not.
When we talk about introversion or extraversion, we only mean ways of emotional feeding. If I am an introvert, then I, most likely, draw energy when addressing myself, during solitude, reflection, and being among people, I actively spend this energy. An extrovert, on the other hand, is energized during communication, his interest is turned to the outside world.
Yes, introverts are more prone to introspection and introspection, but introversion is not synonymous with shyness, social fear, or hostility. Shyness stems from a lack of self-confidence in social situations and is not directly related to the way in which energy is replenished.
I suspect that the criteria of success adopted in modern Western culture contributed to the stigmatization of introverts. Our society is becoming more and more competitive and extroverted: image, personal brand, the ability to make and maintain useful connections, and achieve success through proper networking are gaining special value.
Introverts, prone to few social contacts, find it difficult to exist within this imposed framework, and even more difficult to come to terms with the need to "advertise" themselves. At the same time, a parallel process is taking place in society - with the development of technologies and the penetration of the Internet into all spheres of life, introverted people have the opportunity to stay in touch with the outside world, but minimize psychological discomfort: work remotely, get acquainted via the Internet, etc. etc.
Introversion should not be regarded as a disadvantage, and extroversion as a virtue, these are absolutely neutral categories. Moreover, they are not our conscious choice. These settings, like temperament, are included in our basic equipment, figuratively speaking.
For the survival of humanity as a species, it seems that diversity and the presence of both polarities in the population were necessary. According to various studies (referred to by the Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson), most people still live in the wide middle of the “introversion-extraversion” continuum, and at the extreme points there are several times fewer people.
So, the main difference between introverts and extroverts is the way in which energy is replenished.
Some other features of the introverted attitude:
- Introverts have a lower threshold of emotional arousal, which means they are faster than extroverts to reach a state of overload from external stimuli. In the process of communication, for example, there may be a feeling that "this person is too much." And in order not to be in a state of complete exhaustion, introverts need to limit their contacts with people, as well as information coming from outside.
- Introverts prioritize depth over breadth. This can apply to impressions, information (knowledge) and the quality of communication with other people. An introvert is unlikely to have countless acquaintances, but most likely maintains very close relationships with those whom he considers friends. An introvert is more likely to enjoy light small talk than talking about something important and meaningful.
- Introverts usually take longer to think before reacting to external events. The extraverted attitude assumes that thinking occurs during speech, spontaneously. In the case of introversion, the analysis precedes the statement a little. In particular, therefore, communication on the phone associated with "thinking on the go" requires more energy from introverts than from extroverts.
- Introverts often choose a written form of communication rather than oral, prefer a one-on-one conversation rather than a group, and they often need to be encouraged to speak up (an extrovert is more likely to speak on his own initiative).
Given the need for rest from people to recharge their inner "batteries" and more pronounced fatigue from communication, introverts should not chase their extroverted comrades or blame themselves for the inability to be open and sociable 24 hours a day. Introversion, like innate temperament, are the characteristics that must be taken into account in order to adapt in society without compromising psychological balance.
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