Last month, for example, Science of Us writer Melissa Dahl reported on findings from psychologist Brian Little's latest book on personality science, Me, Myself, and Us: The Science of Personality and the Art of Well-Being, which showed that introverts are better off avoiding caffeine before a big meeting or important event.
Little
cites the theory of extraversion by Hans Eysenck and research by
William Revelle of Northwestern University, explaining that introverts
and extraverts naturally differ when it comes to their alertness and
responsiveness to a given environment. A substance or scene that
overstimulates the central nervous system of an introvert (which doesn't
take much) might cause him or her to feel overwhelmed and exhausted,
rather than excited and engaged.
In her 2012 TED Talk
titled "The Power of Introverts," author Susan Cain reiterated this
point in her definition of introversion, explaining that the trait is
"different from being shy."
"Shyness is about fear of social
judgment," Cain said. "Introversion is more about how do you respond to
stimulation, including social stimulation. So extraverts really crave
large amounts of stimulation, whereas introverts feel at their most
alive and their most switched on and their most capable when they are in
quieter, more low-key environments."
Now it goes without saying
that most of our societal constructs cater to the former -- from open
office spaces to loud bars to the structure of our educational system --
despite the fact that anywhere from one-third to half of the population
has an introverted temperament.
While a person's introverted or
extraverted tendencies fall within a spectrum -- there is no such thing
as a pure introvert or pure extravert, according to famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung -- an introvert is most obvious and vulnerable when he or she is in an overstimulating environment.
Coffee jitters aside, here are 10 ways introverts physically interact with the world around them differently than extraverts.
They withdraw in crowds.
"We hit the 20th century and we entered a new culture that historians call the culture of personality,"
said Cain in her TED Talk. "We had evolved from an agricultural economy
to a world of big business, and so suddenly people are moving from
small towns to the cities, and instead of working alongside people
they've known all their lives, now they are having to prove themselves
in a crowd of strangers."
The resulting crowd, which is often
loud, noisy and congested, easily overstimulates introverts and drains
them of their physical energy. They end up feeling more physically
isolated than supported by their surroundings, and would rather be
anywhere but that sea of people.
Small talk stresses them out, while deeper conversations make them feel alive.
While most extraverts are energized by such interactions, introverts often feel intimidated, bored or exhausted
by them. It's not uncommon in large conversations for introverts to
take on the role of the quiet listener and then take time alone once
it's complete. As Sophia Dembling, the author of The Introvert's Way: Living A Quiet Life In A Noisy World,
explains in her book, it ultimately comes down to how a person receives
(or doesn't receive) energy from his or her surroundings. Instead,
introverts prefer deeper conversations, oftentimes about philosophical
ideas.
They succeed on stage -- just not in the chit-chat afterwards.
“At least half of people who speak for a living
are introverted in nature,” according to Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D, a
certified speaking professional, executive coach and author of Quiet Influence: The Introvert’s Guide to Making a Difference. They simply play to their strengths, and prepare extensively. In fact, some of the most successful performers
are introverts. Remaining on a stage, removed from a massive audience,
proves far easier than the small talk-filled conversations that follow.
They get distracted easily, but rarely feel bored.
If
you're looking to destroy an introverted person's attention span, just
put them in a situation where they feel overstimulated. Due to increased
sensitivity to their surroundings, introverts struggle with feeling
distracted and sometimes overwhelmed in large crowds and open office
spaces.
However, when they are in peace and quiet, they have no
issue tending to a favorite hobby or delving into a new book for hours.
Having that time to take care of their inner selves helps them recharge while enjoying an activity they already enjoy.
They are naturally drawn to more creative, detail-oriented and solitary careers.
Introverts
naturally prefer spending time alone or in a small group, delving
deeply into one task at a time and taking their time when it comes to
making decisions and solving problems. Therefore, they fare better in
work environments that allow them to do all of these things. Certain
professions -- including writers, in-the-field natural scientists and behind-the-scenes tech workers -- can give introverts the intellectual stimulation they crave without the distracting environment they dislike.
When surrounded by people, they locate themselves close to an exit.
Introverts not only feel physically uncomfortable in crowded places, but also do their best to mediate that discomfort by
hanging as close to the periphery as possible. Whether it be by an
exit, at the back of a concert hall, or an aisle row on an airplane,
they avoid being surrounded by people on all sides, according to Dembling.
"We're likely to sit in places where we can get away when we're ready to -- easily," Dembling previously told HuffPost.
They think before they speak.
This
habit of introverts is often what earns them their reputations as
listeners. It is second nature to them to take their time before opening
their mouths, reflecting internally,
instead of thinking out loud (which is more common among extraverts).
They may seem more quiet and shy because of this behavior, but it just
means that when they do speak, the words they share have that much more
thought -- and sometimes power -- behind them.
They don't take on the mood of their environment like extraverts do.
A 2013 study
published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that
extraverts and introverts process experiences through the brain's
"reward" centers quite differently. While extraverts often sense a
feel-good rush of dopamine related to their surroundings, introverts
tend to not experience such a shift. In fact, people who are naturally
introverted do not process rewards from external factors as strongly as
extraverts do.
They physically can't stand talking on the phone.
Most introverts screen their phone calls -- even from their friends -- for several reasons. The intrusive ringing
forces them to abandon focus on a current project or thought and
reassign it to something unexpected. Plus, most phone conversations
require a certain level of small talk that introverts avoid. Instead,
introverts may let calls go to voicemail so they can return them when
they have the proper energy and attention to dedicate to the
conversation.
They literally shut down when it's time to be alone.
"Solitude matters, and for some people, it is the air that they breathe." - Susan Cain
Every introvert has a limit when it comes to stimulation. HuffPost blogger Kate Bartolotta
explains it well when she writes, "Think of each of us as having a cup
of energy available. For introverts, most social interactions take a
little out of that cup instead of filling it the way it does for
extroverts. Most of us like it. We're happy to give, and love to see
you. When the cup is empty though, we need some time to refuel."
