The Introvert Personality Type: Am I Just Shy?
Introversion is a personality trait that may be misunderstood in pop culture. Introverts are habitually stereotyped as shy and socially awkward individuals who hate social interaction. However, the term can have a more intricate meaning.
Introverts may feel the most positive energy when in solitude, potentially losing energy while in the presence of others for too long. Often, introversion is unrelated to having anxiety associated with social interactions. Understanding introversion may help you identify this trait in yourself or someone you love.
Common introvert personality traits
Although introversion is considered a personality theory, it is often widely accepted and discussed in popular psychology. You might relate to the following introverted traits if you're an introvert.
The introvert personality loves spending time alone
While you might enjoy time alone, this doesn't necessarily mean you don't crave human interaction. You could enjoy a busy social life but prefer the sense of peace and rejuvenation you feel at home. If alone time feels like time to recharge your brain and body, you may be an introvert.
Introverts tend to find socializing exhausting
Contrary to introversion stereotypes, you might enjoy socializing with people. However, regardless of how much you appreciate it, you might feel more worn out and exhausted after a night with friends than in your home alone.
Preferring old friends over new ones
When making friends, you might try to take the process slow. You may have a group of people you feel comfortable with and stick around them more than you try to connect with others. At a party, you might hang by a friend you already know instead of going around and talking to new people.
Disliking small talk is among the most common personality traits
Introverts can enjoy and find it easy to talk to others, but small talk may bore these individuals. If you're an introvert, you might find unnecessary conversations tiresome and prefer to use your time more productively through interesting and mind-stimulating conversational topics.
Disliking group work
As an introvert, you may already have a lower tolerance for external stimulation. You might feel more creative and productive when you aren't bombarded with distractions or difficulties delegating tasks. In a group, you may desire a role where you can sit back and do your work independently instead of collaborating on every task.
Being active on social media
While it might appear counterintuitive, introverts often succeed online, as it is a less intimate environment, and they can take their time to formulate responses. You might be an introvert if you prefer chatting with someone over a messaging platform to talking to them in person. However, this trait might also be associated with social anxiety disorder.
Not minding eating alone
For some, dining alone can feel lonely. However, for introverts, eating alone might not be as significant a problem, and they may prefer this practice. Eating alone, an introvert doesn't have to talk to others, think about small talk, or lose energy.
Feeling lonelier in crowds than alone
It can be challenging to build deep connections with crowds of strangers and acquaintances, either with others or with yourself. This sense of isolation in large groups might be a reflection of how your mental health prioritizes meaningful interactions over casual ones. Introverts may prefer to stick to smaller gatherings where they can connect with others and talk to close friends.
Disliking networking
Introverts often appreciate existing relationships and may avoid new ones if they do not find them necessary. Networking can involve small talk and surface connections, which introverts may prefer to avoid.
Seeing work as work
When working, introverts may view their workplace as a place to get a job done rather than meet new people or chitchat. They may prefer to clock in, do their job, and go home. If coworkers are causing distractions or trying to socialize during an essential task, it might cause distress or confusion for an introvert.
Introverts tend to face common misconceptions
Although several traits are associated with introverts, there are also misconceptions about these individuals, including the following.
"Introverts don't like talking"
Despite popular belief, many introverts enjoy socializing and talking if the conversation is meaningful and interesting. Many of the world's most valued social activists, lawyers, speakers, CEOs, celebrities, and other professionals are introverts.
"All introverts are shy"
Shyness and introversion are not the same. Shyness can involve fear of being socially rejected or finding yourself in socially awkward situations. Introversion is the tendency to focus more on internal thoughts than on the external world. While there are introverts who are shy, some are not. Shyness is behavior and a potential feeling, whereas introversion is more of a personality trait and temperament.
"Introverts don't like socializing"
Introverts often enjoy socializing and making friends. However, they may have limits on their time before they head home to rejuvenate their energy. Many introverts have close friends they frequently spend time with and love.
Which introverted personality type are you?
Different types of introverts may exist depending on personality traits, behaviors, thoughts, and desires. Consider the following types below to ask yourself which type of introvert you might be.
Social introverts
Social introverts are considered talkative and easygoing around their close friends and family. They choose their friends wisely and carefully and may be honest and open with the ones they trust. They might not be considered shy but still require time to be alone and recharge after significant social meetups.
Meeting new people can feel exciting for a social introvert, but long conversations can be exhausting. They may prefer being alone or spending time with their best friends to having too many social interactions with strangers.
Thinking introverts
Thinking introverts may not be as overwhelmed by significant groups of people or huge social events. They often stay in a thought bubble and ignore distractions. They can spend hours considering unique ideas or concepts, including when in social situations. They may perceive the world through emotions, giving them a unique sense of empathy and intuition.
Anxious introvert
If you go to significant lengths to avoid any form of communication, you may be an anxious introvert. Anxious introverts may feel intimidated by unnecessary conversations. They may often find themselves in awkward situations when communicating with others.
Some introverts in this category may feel overwhelmed and stressed due to fearful thoughts. They might try to keep their social life to a minimum due to their self-consciousness or low self-esteem. An anxious introvert may benefit from trying to take small steps out of their comfort zone to interact more with others.
Restrained introvert
Restrained introverts might not enjoy being alone but prefer to think carefully before a social interaction. They may not feel entirely uncomfortable in large groups of people. But require time to adjust to a new situation or environment.
Mental health issues related to these personality types
Can introverts become extroverts?
Some people believe introversion is a trait you're born with instead of a trait you develop over time. However, you may be able to change your personality, even if you don't change your temperament. If you wish you were an extrovert, consider which parts of being an introvert make you most distressed. You might be able to discuss these topics with a professional or journal about them to understand your needs better.
Some introverts wish they could be more outgoing. However, you don't necessarily need to be an extrovert to be this way. Like others, you may be able to learn to be more engaging and adapt better to various social situations. However, ensuring you care for your needs for self-care and alone time can still be valuable to avoid stress and burnout.
Does introversion have unique types and advantages?
At times, it can seem that introverts are not appreciated or understood like extroverts. However, many influential people in the world were or are introverts and impacted society, including but not limited to Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Meryl Streep, and Emma Watson.
In addition, introverts may succeed more naturally in some skills. For example, they may be more versatile, creative, responsible, and independent. They can take their jobs seriously and try to complete any assigned task. Regarding relationships, introverts may offer quality time and attention to the person they love.
Being an introvert may not dictate how successful or happy you can be. Per a quote by Janis Joplin, "Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got."
Professional support for introversion and social anxiety
Introversion is not a mental health condition. However, it can come with challenges in social life. In addition, some people may mistake mental illnesses like social anxiety disorder or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) for introversion. Regardless of the cause of your struggles, you may benefit from reaching out for support if you'd like to talk to someone about your symptoms.
Online mental health support for all personality types
Social anxiety or introversion can make it challenging to leave home, which might be a barrier to in-person therapy for some individuals. If you relate, you might benefit from online counseling through a platform like BetterHelp. Online therapy may create a safe, intimate space where introverts can freely be themselves. In addition, you can have control over your therapeutic process with the option to choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions.
If you're feeling uncertain about online therapy, studies have found that it can be as effective as in-person options. One study found that online therapy was as effective as in-person counseling for several mental illnesses, including social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which might lead to difficulty in social situations. Embracing online therapy could be a practical step for introverts who want to seek support in a comfortable and accessible way.
Takeaway
How do introverts behave?
Adult introverts may exhibit multiple types of behavior, including the following:
- They may enjoy spending time alone to recharge their brains and bodies.
- They prefer friend groups they feel comfortable with. Introverts typically choose to spend time with people they have developed deep relationships with instead of meeting new people.
- They may find small talk tiresome and prefer interesting, mind-stimulating conversations.
- They may prefer to work alone rather than in a group.
- They may prefer to chat with someone online than in person or on the phone.
- They may not mind doing things alone, like eating or going to a movie.
- They may feel isolated in large groups of people.
- They may dislike professional networking.
- They may separate work from their social life. In many cases, introverted people may simply prefer to clock in, do their work, and go home.
When you hear people talk about the terms introvert and extrovert, they are commonly used to explain preferences for socializing, but research has found that there may be differences in their brains, including some differences in cerebral blood flow, that can explain other contrasts between them. For example, in Eysenck’s theory of personality, it takes less stimulation to make introverts function at an optimal level of cognitive performance than extroverts. According to this arousal theory, extroverts may perform at optimal levels, while introverts may see a decline in performance when working with moderate to high levels of external stimulation.
There may also be differences in incentive motivation. Extroverts tend to be driven by external rewards, like praise or social recognition, while introverts are often more motivated by intrinsic rewards and own recognition.
How do I tell if I'm an introvert?
Generally, introverts gain energy when they are alone in a quiet place, whereas extroverts generally recharge when they are with other people.
There are many misconceptions about introverts. Some may believe that introverts are shy people who are socially anxious, but this is not necessarily true. Someone with an extroverted personality may feel comfortable interacting with others and thrive in social settings. However, an introvert may feel exhausted after spending time interacting with others and need time alone to recover from what may feel like too much stimulation from such interactions.
If you prefer to spend time alone rather than in a group setting or would rather spend time with a small group of close friends at a large party or gathering, you may have introverted tendencies.
What are the 4 types of introverts?
In social psychology, there are four types of introverts, as listed below:
- Social introverts. Social introverts can be chatty and personable with their close friends and family but still require time to recharge after spending time in large groups or social engagements.
- Thinking introverts. This type of introvert may not feel drained by social events but spend significant amounts of time examining their own thoughts, ignoring distractions in their everyday life, even when in group settings. They may have significant self-understanding, be in tune with their internal feelings, and perceive the outside world through emotions, which gives them a unique sense of intuition and empathy.
- Anxious introverts. These introverts dislike unnecessary conversations and may feel awkward when communicating with others. Some may also have feelings of low self-esteem or self-consciousness that contribute to their behaviors.
- Restrained introverts. This type of introvert may not enjoy being alone but be very particular about their social interactions. While they may not feel comfortable in large groups, they may adjust to new environments and situations over time.
How do introverts like someone?
Introverts prefer spending time with people they feel comfortable with. While introverts may recharge by spending time alone, most do not engage in social withdrawal. However, they may be more likely to choose a quiet evening with a few close friends than spending time at a large social event or crowded venue.
How do introverts show love?
Everyone is different, but people who are introverted may be more likely to show their partners how they feel rather than tell them. They may also keep their feelings comfort rather than making public declarations of love and affection.
Do introverts like texting?
An introvert may prefer texting to talking on the phone, not because they are a shy person but because it gives them time to focus on their thoughts and feelings and carefully formulate their responses.
Do introverts get angry easily?
Some introverts may be more introspective and self-aware, with a thorough understanding of their own minds, which can help them develop good emotional regulation skills. That said, despite their self-awareness, introverts may reach a state of arousal that can lead them to become angry more quickly than extroverts.
What annoys an introvert?
What annoys people can vary on an individual basis, but introverts may get annoyed when they are in a group setting and are overstimulated, such as when there is a lot of background noise or when someone won’t stop talking.
What are the weaknesses of introverts?
While not all introverts are the same, one challenge to being introverted can be that they are often misunderstood. People can misinterpret an introvert’s reserve for shyness or rudeness, but in many cases, they may only be processing their surroundings in their own way.
Another area that may be considered a weakness is learning styles. While extroverts learn effectively through hands-on experience, collaboration, and discussion, introverts often learn best independently in a quiet environment. This may not always be possible in a classroom setting, which can disadvantage introverts in certain learning environments.
When an introvert blocked you?
There may be many reasons that an introvert blocked you online. Introverted people tend to be more sensitive and prefer to keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves, so they may limit who can see their social media posts. They can also prefer associating with smaller, close-knit friend groups, so they may just be trying to limit who they interact with. If an introvert has blocked you, they have likely made that decision for their own well-being. It can be best to respect their decision and refrain from contacting them.
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