Are You An Introvert? Discover The 8 Virtues Of Introverts
Do you think you are an introverted person? Do you know what the advantages of introversion are? Discover the skills and secrets behind an introverted personality.
What is the difference between a person introvert or extrovert? There are many qualities of a person that define them, but one of the most notable is extraversion and introversion. These two personality traits make people have different abilities both socially and intellectually. Here we will show you all the characteristics and the most hidden secrets of introverts according to current psychology.
Although many of us can identify as introverted people the reality is that in most cases our character is a balance between the qualities of an introvert and an extrovert.
When we refer to a introverted person and its definition In psychology we are pointing to that person with a type of personality that makes them feel more comfortable with their internal thoughts and ideas instead of what is happening around them. So much so that introverts enjoy solitude or the company of one person much more than in large groups or crowds.
The first to use the terms introvert and extrovert was Carl Jung in the 1920s. In this way, this psychologist determined these positive qualifiers to establish two types of people based on the way they obtain, spend or invest their energy. . While extroverts get it from being with other people, introverts seek it in their own minds.
Why am I an introverted person?
Although scientists still do not know with certainty the causes of a introverted personality or extroverted, the differences at the mental level of these two types of people have been established.
According to different investigations, it has been discovered that the introverted people They have greater blood flow to the frontal lobe. This is the part of the brain where functions are performed to remember things, solve problems and plan for the future.
In addition to this characteristic, it has also been determined that the brain of a person introvert reacts differently to dopamine than the brains of an extroverted person. This substance is involved in the search for rewards and pleasures. In this way, even though the brains of an introvert and an extrovert generate the same amount of this chemical, extroverts experience excitement when they receive this reward. On the other hand, when introverts have a lot of dopamine they end up feeling overwhelmed by that sensation.
Types of introversion
As we have already mentioned, people are never completely extroverted or introverted So much so that we can qualify certain degrees of introversion within psychology. There are also cases in which extroversion and introversion occur in a balanced way, these are called ambivalent people. Therefore, an introvert will have traits of an extrovert (but in lesser quantities) and vice versa. In this way, four subtypes of introversion are established based on the presence of extroverted traits.
Social introverts: When we refer to introverted people, we often do not think that they are too sociable. On the other hand, at introverts This style likes small groups and quiet environments among crowds. Therefore, they do not avoid socializing even though they do not like to be in environments with people all the time.
Thinkers: These introverted people could be defined as daydreamers. So much so that they spend a lot of time inside their thoughts and tend to be constantly imagining certain creative situations. In this way a reserved person can enter within this introversion class
Loners: A introverted person This style tends to seek time alone not only because they enjoy it but they also need it on a psychological level. This happens because they often feel uncomfortable or shy around other people.
Undecided: This introverted personality He usually thinks before acting. In this way they are much quieter than usual and tend to think a lot about their decisions. Therefore, these types of introverts take longer than normal to act.
Each of these types of introversion can change over time as well as in different environments. Although introverts can go from one introversion class to the other, it is not likely that they will end up being extroverts.
What is the difference between introvert and shy?
On many occasions, an introvert tends to be seen as shy, but these two characteristics of a person do not go hand in hand. The introversion It is one of the qualities of a person, whereas shyness is an emotion.
Thus, shy people tend to feel uncomfortable when they are in a social environment. A introverted person He does not feel this sensation, he simply prefers to be in a calmer environment.
That is, shyness can cause a person to skip social events because of the negative feelings they experience when being in such an environment. In fact, on many occasions this emotion can lead to a psychological problem such as social anxiety. In these cases, it is vital to go to a psychological consultation.
On the other hand, an introvert will prefer to skip social events but only because they feel more comfortable in a calmer environment. That is, they do not associate social events with negative thoughts. Taking this into account, be shy It does not imply being an introvert.
What does it mean to be an introvert or extrovert?
The introversion like extroversion They are very complex and multifaceted personality constructions. In fact, individuals often have traits of both introverts and extroverts. Therefore, there are more tendencies toward one side or the other of these personality characteristics. Normally, the main differences focus on the following aspects:
Sociability: A person introvert and extrovert They behave differently in front of others. Extroverts tend to have a greater preference for seeking, participating in, and enjoying social interactions. On the other hand, introverts tend to be more reserved and withdrawn in social environments, and it is very common for them to prefer to avoid many social situations. This does not mean that an introvert is antisocial, but rather that they tend to become overwhelmed by too many events with others.
Communication: Research carried out by psychologists Min Lee and Nass pointed out that extroverted people They tend to have more presence in social environments because they tend to speak more frequently and with a louder voice, as well as having a tendency to occupy more physical space.
Decision making: Studies have also determined that introverted people They often use the latest information to form judgments and make decisions. On the other hand, people with more extroverted profiles tended to have more control when making important decisions.
In the workplace: According to experts, extroverted people They have more satisfaction in professional areas. This is because unlike someone who is introverted, an extrovert usually takes more measures to remedy those work situations that are unsatisfactory.
Brain differences between an extrovert and an introvert
Research carried out by Fisher, Wik and Frederickson (1997) concluded that there are neuronal differences in the spectrum Introvert extrovert by observing regional cerebral blood flow. These findings suggested that there were changes in the dopaminergic basis depending on whether a person was introverted or extroverted.
Lei, Yang and Wu (2015) used neuroimaging techniques that detected that extraversion is associated with activations in regions of the anterior cingulate cortex (related to decision making and socially driven interactions) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (associated with executive functions such as working memory and cognition), the middle temporal gyrus (memory semantics and language) and the amygdala (emotion processing). Therefore, from this perspective, it is postulated that extroverts are minimally aroused and therefore seek additional external stimulation to raise their level of cortical arousal.
Instead, introverted people They showed greater responsiveness within the frontostriatal-thalamic circuit (responsible for mediating motor, cognitive and behavioral functions within the brain). Which supports the preference of introverts to avoid social interactions. (Suslow, Kugel, Reber, Dannlowski, Kersting, Arolt, Heindel, Ohrmann, & Egloff, 2010).
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Myths about introverts
There are some myths that shake people introverted people The fact that introverts get a bad reputation is simply because there is more tendency towards extraversion than introversion in society. It is for this reason that an introvert can find himself in situations where others tend to prejudge his personality.
Being shy is the same as being introverted: As we have already seen, shyness is an emotion differentiated from introversion Although introverts can sometimes be shy, this is not always the case.
They create hostility: Introversion does not mean being less or more friendly. One of the virtues of a introverted person It can be sympathy or joy. Therefore, being introverted is not linked to being less or more likeable.
They can’t be leaders: Although most people think of qualities of a outgoing person When referring to a leader, the reality is that introverts can also be in this position.
It’s hard to meet an introvert: It’s not that it’s difficult to meet one introverted person In truth, they prefer to have deep friendships but only with a handful of friends.
Despite all the myths around introverted people the reality is that these have qualities that can be an advantage over extroverts.
How do I know if I am an introvert? Virtues of introverts
There are some common traits that all people introverts they share. Knowing if you are an introvert or extrovert will help you understand yourself better and know more about yourself.
Being with a lot of people exhausts you: The introverted people They feel exhausted after spending a whole day interacting with people. Thus, introverts tend to expend energy in social situations unlike extroverts.
You enjoy solitude: One of people’s favorite plans introverts It’s spending time alone with themselves. Enjoying your hobbies and hobbies is one of the pleasures in your life.
You have few but very close friends: Even though people introverts They do not enjoy constantly socializing, they always have a group of very close friends. In this way, their friendships are characterized by being very deep, close and intimate relationships.
They define you as difficult to know: When most people define you as difficult or complex, it means that you are most likely a introverted person Despite this thought, the reality is that in many cases introverts are not that difficult to get to know.
You don’t like hustle and bustle: Introverts feel overwhelmed when there is a lot of activity around them. So much so that according to different studies, the introverted people they tend to be much more distracted
You are very self-aware: Since introverts spend a lot of time with themselves, it is normal for them to be very aware of their identity. One of the virtues of an introverted person is precisely their self-knowledge.
They like to learn by watching: Generally, an extrovert will prefer to learn through hands-on experience. On the other hand, introverts tend to want to know through observation and reflection.
They love to work independently: Naturally, an introvert will not like jobs that require a lot of social interaction. Therefore, most of them will love to have a job where they can enjoy their independence.
Introversion and mental health
There are more chances that Introverted people may have a mental health problem The reason is precisely because of the degree of introspection and loneliness that these personalities have unlike extroverts. This happens because the more time you spend thinking, the more anchored to your own thoughts you are. So much so that if these tend to be negative, it is very likely that you will end up leading to anxiety and depression problems. Furthermore, an introvert who suffers from a high degree of shyness can become antisocial and even develop agoraphobia or social anxiety due to fear of bad social experiences. In each of these cases it is essential to go to a psychologist before referring to a major pathology.
Introverted people have many qualities that are sometimes not valued in society. Despite this, it is vital to think that the virtues of an introverted person are great for knowing oneself and enjoying life in every sense.
