Introverts and extroverts are often viewed in terms of two extreme opposites, but the truth is that most people lie somewhere in the middle. While introverts make up an estimated 25% to 40% of the population, there are still many misconceptions about this personality type.
Around one-third to one-half of all people in the U.S. are introverts. Though it looks different in everyone, introverts have many of the same patterns of behavior. In general, introverts: Need quiet to concentrate.
The first official random sample by the Myers-Briggs organization showed introverts made up 50.7% and extroverts 49.3% of the United States general population.
“Being 100% extroverted or introverted is pretty rare. Most people are a combination of both personality types. The labels “introvert” and “extrovert” have become a short-hand way to express how people react to the world around them.
Social introverts are not necessarily rare, but they may be less common than extroverts or other types of introverts. According to some estimates, introverts make up around 25-40% of the population, and social introverts may represent a smaller subset of this group.
On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. But statistics show that around 70% of gifted people are introverts. People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math.
Introversion isn't totally genetic. It gets influenced by your environment at a young age, and our genes allow a certain amount of flexibility in response. This happens through “set points,” which are the upper and lower limits of how much extroversion your brain can handle.
You're an introvert.
It gets better. As an adult, you now leverage your strength for processing, contemplating and thinking things over, which is a trait of highly intelligent people. In fact, more than 75 percent of people with an IQ above 160 are introverted.
It's not easy being an introvert. Little things that don't bother extroverts — like hanging out in groups, unexpected phone calls, and being put on the spot — can chip away at your energy.
INFJ is the rarest personality type across the population, occurring in just 2% of the population. It is also the rarest personality type among men. INFJ stands for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Judging. This unique combination is hard to find in most people.
Introverts are more likely to be effective leaders in organizations that encourage workers to contribute ideas. Introverts' listening skills may draw top results from their teams. 7 Introverts also are observant, noticing details and connections others may not—including contributions that other introverts can make.
Introverts tend to experience more anticipatory anxiety and anxiety disorders than extroverts. Anxiety typically means your stress response is constantly activated, even if there's no clear cause for it.
In 2011, research by psychologists Jennifer Grimes, Jonathan Cheek, and Julie Norem broke introversion into four main types: social introvert, thinking introvert, anxious introvert, and restrained introvert.
The most rare Personality Types are INFJ, followed by ENTJ and INTJ.
Being shy and being introverted aren't the same thing, although they may look the same. An introvert enjoys time alone and gets emotionally drained after spending a lot of time with others. A shy person doesn't necessarily want to be alone but is afraid to interact with others.
This means talking in terms of the other person's interests and listening to them when they talk about themselves. This shows you're interested in their values, attitudes, experiences, and beliefs. You're interested in who they are as a person, which can be a real turn-on, especially to a fellow introvert or HSP.
Weaknesses: social anxiety, shyness, navigating a predominantly extroverted world.
Being an introvert doesn't necessarily mean you're socially awkward, but the two do sometimes overlap. Certainly, as in my case, the fear of feeling anxious and awkward in social settings can cause us to lean into our introversion.
Introverts can experience a bit of anxiety when they need to speak in social situations. Introducing themselves, talking to a stranger or public speaking are mentally draining for them. These are the examples of a definitely stressful situation out of their comfort zone.
While autism and introversion share some similarities, it's important to remember that they are two very different things. Not everyone who is introverted is autistic, and not everyone who is autistic is introverted.
If you look at some of the world's preeminent inventors, writers, and entrepreneurs, most of them are introverts.
Introverts tend to be more prone to overthinking than extroverts, but it's possible for anyone to fall into this trap. Being an introvert means you have a tendency towards self-reflection that can take its toll if you're not careful.
Introversion and Happiness
While introverts are generally likely to report lower levels of happiness than extroverts, this does not mean that introverts are unhappy. Ultimately, it's important to note the happiness benefits of both introverted and extroverted behavior, no matter where you fall on the spectrum.
Not only is Einstein one of the most famous scientists in history, but he was also a known introvert. Leaning into his introverted nature, Einstein believed that his creativity and success came from keeping to himself. He said, “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”
No, an introvert can not become an extrovert. Introversion and extroversion are how the brain is hardwired to gain energy, deal with outside stimulation, and process information. Being an introvert is who you are, not something that can or should be fixed.