I found this book in a thrift store. I was surprised to learn about the scientific evidence that the predisposition toward introversion is mainly genetic. Many of the observations written down by the author match my lived experience. Interesting to think that some of these tendencies are rooted in neurological differences. The author wrote about a lack of solid statistics, but estimated that introverts make up about 25% of the population. What follows are relevant excerpts from the book.
Sometimes, I would be quite social and charming, as is always possible with introverts. I mystified my parents and my schoolteachers. At one moment I was outgoing and friendly, and in the next, I would become withdrawn and secretive because the socializing had simply worn me out.
It was Carl Jung, one of history's most acclaimed and controversial psychological theorists, who coined the terms "introvert" and "extravert" (note that Jung used an "a" in extravert, and it has somehow evolved to using an "o," as in extrovert--either is fine).
Introverts are people who need to be left alone at times (much more often than extroverts). We prefer to spend the bulk of our time "in our heads," and we cannot do this well while in the middle of a group of people at a tailgate party. Introverts tend to be thinkers, planners, strategists, and imaginers, and enjoy doing complex work with our brains. We prefer symbols to spoken words.
When completing tasks and projects, introverts tend to be more methodical and focused than extroverts. We are more economical with both movement and words, and frequently go at a given task with a quiet resolve until it's done.
Introverts tend to be much more sensitive to outside stimulus, meaning noise, the activity around them, the ringing of the phone, even caffeine. While extroverts drink this stimulation in, we get overloaded very quickly. The reason for this is our very low tolerance to dopamine; the neurotransmitter that is involved in providing the pleasurable feelings one gets from thrill seeking and excitement. Introverted minds are always turning and are able to stimulate themselves so fully that too much commotion from the outer world will make us cranky, tired, and will eventually cause us to sort of shut down for a bit.
The last definitive mark of an introvert is the preference for depth vs. breadth. In her book The Introvert Advantage: How To Thrive in an Extrovert World, Marti Olsen Laney explains that extroverts love to spread their attention and interests far and wide, while introverts feel happier delving deep into a few subjects or focusing deeply on a few relationships, tasks, hobbies, or projects.
Because of our very low-key nature, introverts are often mistaken for being shy, aloof, misanthropic, slow, dull, or lonely.
Science has found that the brains of introverts work differently than the brains of extroverts. First, the introvert's brain is more self-stimulating than the extrovert's. Second, the paths by which information is processed are different, with the introverted path being long and complicated and the extroverted path being fairly straight and unhampered by bends and twists. And finally, the neurotransmitter preferences between introverts and extroverts are different.
Many extroverts have low sensitivity to dopamine, so they need to do things that they find exciting to keep their dopamine level high. Usually dopamine can be kept at high enough levels for an extrovert simply by staying busy with social and externally focused activities.
Introverts on the other hand, are incredibly sensitive to dopamine, according to Ms. Olsen-Laney. A little is more than enough. We like to have a different neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, traveling our brain paths.
In contrast to dopamine, which produces exciting and pleasurable feelings when the extrovert is engaged in social activities, acetylcholine produces pleasurable feelings for the introvert when he or she is thinking and feeling on an inner level. Acetylcholine is associated with a calmly alert state.
Introvert: Increased eye contact when listening.
Extrovert: Decreased eye contact when listening.
Introvert: Does not enjoy being the center of attention.
Extrovert: Wants to be the center of attention.
Introvert: Shuts down when over-stimulated or stressed-out.
Extrovert: Thrives on outside stimulation.
Introvert: Surprises others with their depth of knowledge about
a given subject.
Extrovert: Is invigorated by knowing a little about a lot.
Introvert: Has excellent long-term memory.
Extrovert: Has excellent short-term memory.
Introvert: May have trouble retrieving information quickly.
Extrovert: Shoots from the hip.
Introvert: Operates at an overall lower energy level--more
relaxed.
Extrovert: High energy--quick movements, can't sit still for
long.
Introvert: Gets uncomfortable with increased interactions.
Extrovert: Gets uncomfortable with less interacting.
Introvert: Not fond of surprises.
Extrovert: Surprises are part of the fun.
Introvert: More territorial.
Extrovert: Less territorial.
Some personality traits might be hard-wired; a part of our genetic code from a thousand generations. It seems that the tendency towards being introverted or extroverted is most likely something we are born with. Everyone's personality is an intricately woven web that intertwines the DNA inherited from mother and father, and the behavioral traits that are inherited, learned, and developed through life. To tease the web fully apart would be nearly impossible.
Somewhere along the line, someone is going to ask the question, "Are introverts just extroverts who haven't developed their social skills?" This is an unfair question... Introverts can and do have excellent social skills available that they can use *when they choose to be social.*
According to a 1956 study of both fraternal and paternal twins by Hans J. Eysenck, it found that identical twins "resembled each other more closely than fraternal twins in extraversion and introversion."
In 1969, researcher Sandra Scarr found a moderate to high genetic contribution to being introverted or extroverted, and in 1976, J.M. Horn, R. Plomin, and R. Rosenman found that identical twins were more likely to be similar in their inclination to talk to strangers (a good indicator of introversion or extroversion) than fraternal twins.
Richard Depue and Paul Collins argued in their article, Neuriobiology of the Structure of Personality: Dopamine, Facilitation of Incentive, Motivation, and Extraversion, that there is a very strong case for a neurobiological basis for extroverted behavior which is linked to incentive motivation. Basically what the research says is that there is a genetic link to doing extroverted things because it boosts the dopamine level in the brain. Extroverts like dopamine. Introverts can only take a little at a time.
Some of the best gifts that introverts have to offer are independence, self-reliance, and the ability to stand alone.
Relying on ourselves for our own best answers and the willingness to stand alone gives the introvert an advantage in situations where individual strength is required.
Introspection and the gift of self-awareness are also among the gifts of being introverted.
While both introverts and extroverts can be of high intelligence, introverts generally display a very high ability to concentrate well for extended periods of time. Complex thinking and working through puzzle-like problems are activities that the introvert's mind is well adapted to.
If you are trying to change a basic trait such as your introverted personality, you will have about as much success as you would trying to change your hair color. Sure, you can cover it with another color, but it's still the natural color underneath. It's one thing to learn to adapt to certain situations, and quite another to try to force yourself to change.
One social skill that comes in pretty handy for an introvert is the skill of saying "no."
Parents and society expect certain types of behavior from children. It is assumed that children will be naturally playful (as in with lots of other kids) and outgoing. It's also assumed that they will be social and want to learn about the new people that cross their paths. As children grow, they are expected to have the desire to join and spend time with many new friends and experience many new activities. For extroverted children in our world, this is all very fine. But for introverted kids, these assumptions and expectations are backwards.
While introverted children needn't be treated with kid gloves, it's essential to allow them to have quiet time by themselves. It's also important to allow them to decide if they want to join in group activities and such. Helping an introverted child to learn about social skills is also important. The skills of cooperating with others in small groups, getting to know new people, socializing, and understanding the differences in personality types is critically important. These develop over time, and shouldn't be forced so much as gently taught as opportunities arrive.
When it comes to the classroom, it's good to remember that introverted students do well with assignments that involve using their critical thinking and reasoning skills. They may be slow to join in a conversation or group discussion. It's not that they aren't paying attention, but that they are processing what they're hearing.
For some introverted students there will be a time lag between learning and hearing/seeing a lesson and having the information readily available for regurgitation. Being pressured to answer questions on new concepts might prove to be unsuccessful, frustrating, and discouraging.
Introverts might feel more comfortable discussing lessons and new material at their own pace, after they've had time to fully consider what they have learned, and feedback is appreciated when given in private, rather than in a group setting.
You see, it's usually not the job so much as the setting, atmosphere, and social expectations that get attached to the job that bother introverts so much.
As a general rule, introverts do better in jobs that offer them lots of autonomy and flexibility and a quiet setting to work in. Introverts also do better in jobs that allow them to use their natural analytical abilities and creativity. We often dislike jobs where we have to answer the phone a lot, or deal with lots of people at one time or in a long succession.
Introverts are often highly valued for their ability to concentrate, untangle messes, create plans and strategies, be creative in other ways, and deliver well-organized and thought-out work.
One of the biggest challenges that any introvert faces is conserving, preserving, and regaining energy. Being part of a world that is for the most part, very extroverted is part of our everyday lives. We need to find ways to protect our own energy levels and equilibrium.
Here are some methods that may help for dealing with being in a situation that is over stimulating:
For recovering and replenishing energy after socializing or a period of over stimulation:
It can help us to establish our own daily rituals, routines, and methods for developing our own mindset of calm and centeredness.
For keeping energy levels steady during the course of each day:
If stress is uncontrollable in your life, you may opt to look into finding help in the form of counseling or therapy.
What makes a person lucky? [They:]
If you think something is amiss because you don't have scads of friends, it's only a problem if you're an extrovert. If you're an introvert, you're being normal. Anyone telling you different is misinformed.
author: Lambert, Lee Ann
detail: https://web.archive.org/web/20100108001817/http://livingintroverted.com/ISBN: 9781441464057
title: Living Introverted