Introversion has reached its peak throughout the most recent decades as if it hasn’t been popular enough before. Ever since Sigmund Freud proposed the radical theory of psychology, this rapidly became a field that researches a number of neuroses, mental dysfunctions, and conflicts. The enormous number of discoveries after this continued and even challenged his conceptions. [1]
The follower who I simply must mention first is Carl Jung. His theory of the collective unconscious and archetypes was very popular. Jung’s personality types classification is now one of the most widely recognized, separating all people into two main categories: extroverts and introverts.[2]
Both categories are really special, but this one is still very challenging to understand. This is because extroverts are much more numerous than introverts, and our culture is more oriented toward their specific type of activity and communication. When it comes to introverts, many people do not understand or cannot recognize their unique traits, making them less noticeable by nature.
If you ask someone what an extrovert is compared to an introvert, they would probably say something like: ‘Extroverts are doers’. This is a very wrong explanation. Thinking that a person who is an introvert by nature is unemotional or cold is the worst misconception there is and cannot possibly be further from the truth.
The typical, common features of introverts go much further than this. Both types have their own unique characteristics and make us the excellent individuals we are.
Another widespread misconception or myth about introverts is that this group of people is unsociable, i.e. tend to escape contact with anyone whenever this is possible. The difference introverts and extroverts have when it comes to how they spend their energy and which mechanisms they use is a result of it, but this definitely does not mean that an introvert is an unsociable person.
An introvert will gain his or her energy in solitude and unlike extroverts, he or she will spend this energy when interacting and socializing with the environment. Therefore, the energy extroverts lose in solitude is the energy introverts lose during their communication. This is exactly why an introvert will prefer to be alone at times.
Some see it as a perk, others as a flaw. Introverts need some time to recuperate from social interactions and regain the energy to get involved in new ones. Extroverts need to be with other people to get that energy. Therefore, an introvert is more likely to replenish energy resources by listening to music, thinking about something, or reading a book.
A fully charged introvert is pretty much the same as an extrovert. When they have their energy built during that time in solitude, they enjoy having fun, spending some time with their friends, and simply socializing. [3]
Since I mentioned friends, introverts are special in this, too. They are much more peculiar and picky about the friends they hang out with, but not because they are contemptuous. On the opposite, introverts are known to seek stronger connections with people they communicate with, meaning that they are more likely to form a larger number of long-lasting relationships than an extrovert.
An extrovert may have many deep relationships, but they will also have many failed ones. An introvert may choose to have fewer friends, but they will all be carefully picked and in most cases, these friendships will be long-lasting.
It doesn’t mean that an introvert cannot get along with all people. They can do this just as well as others, but they will be much more careful when it comes to letting people bond and get close to them. In other words, an introvert puts the accent on quality over quantity when it comes to friendships.
By nature, a person who is an introvert is more creative when he works on his own. They don’t struggle with teamwork or communication, or even presented to the public. However, they prefer to build on their creativity on their own and want to share their results only when they are done.
One of the most special characteristics of an introvert is self-awareness. Since these people spend most of their time thinking and gaining that energy in solitude, they have a very high level of self-awareness. An introvert will sit for hours trying to dig deep into his thoughts and feelings until they figure out what exactly lies underneath. This can be very beneficial and make the introvert highly productive, but can also turn out to be destructive.
The point of this essay is to get rid of all those misconceptions about introverts and see them as they are – quality individuals with very specific and intriguing traits that if used right, can make these people highly successful and productive. Introverts are not cold and egocentric, nor they are rationalists as our society portrays them. The behaviors these people share are based on their preferences and understandings of the world, as well as how they gain energy.
Both groups have their advantages and disadvantages. Even though extroverts are the majority of our population, this human behavior category also has some cons. Therefore, being an introvert is nothing less or worse than being an extrovert. On the opposite – this means that you only have a different system of creating and spending your energy.
Introverts recharge in solitude and are very self-aware. This makes them self-sufficient and highly productive when left alone. It is an excellent combination, but it also means that they have less of a social life than extroverts, and their understanding of the world can often cause emotional stress for them.
References:
[1] http://www.cgjungpage.org/learn/articles/analytical-psychology/819-in-the-beginning-jung-and-freud-on-introversion
[2] https://fractalenlightenment.com/31622/life/jungs-theory-of-introvert-and-extrovert-personalities
[3] www.verywellmind.com/signs-you-are-an-introvert-2795427