Individuals with an introverted personality type are also often known to be perfectionists and very self-critical. Such characteristics can leave individuals feeling unsatisfied with themselves and with their lives. It can also lead to stress, mental and physical exhaustion, as well as mental health issues.
The brains of introverts look and react differently than the brains of extroverts. The key differences: The prefrontal cortex. Introverts have a thicker prefrontal cortex than extroverts, which means they have more tissue in the area of the brain associated with deep thought and decision-making.
“Being an introvert is actually a strength because they do take that time to process and filter their responses,” says Owens. “And they tend to be better active listeners and strategic thinkers.”
Being an Introvert is Normal
Many people grow up with misconceptions about what it means to be an introvert. The truth is pretty simple: Being an introvert is normal and healthy. 30 to 50 percent of the population is introverted.
If you started out very introverted, you may develop more extraverted traits later in life. Or you may consciously choose to develop your capacity for extraversion. But either way, it's not the same as being an Extravert.
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.”
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.
Introverts are looked down upon for lack of good 'communication skills'. Right from an early age, introverts have to compete very hard with peers, who seem to have no problem in public or interpersonal speaking. What seems to be effortless for peers is actually the most difficult task for an introverted child.
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.
Introverts are easily distracted by external stimuli and while they might be too nice to say anything, get very frustrated with constant interruptions when they are trying to concentrate.
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.
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.
Introverts are loyal and devoted friends.
People are attracted to loyal and devoted people. While introverts may not always realize it, this is a trait most people find attractive in them. Their loyalty isn't just attractive to the recipients of that devotion, but to anyone who observes them.
It has been found that introverted individuals have higher cortical arousal levels thus enhancing memory consolidation and storage abilities (Cox-Fuenzalisa, Angie, Holloway, Sohl, 2006). They have better memory for the long term.
Casual sex is sometimes a no-go.
In other words, according to Dembling, introverts “like to jump into the deep end.” Rather than devoting their time and social energy to someone they're never going to see again, introverts commonly favor being around those they've cultivated an intimate, personal relationship with.
A 2018 study shows that introverts have high levels of observation — in the study, introverts made more accurate observations about human behavior than extroverts.
But, according to psychiatrist Carl Jung, who introduced the terms into psychology, there's actually no such thing as a pure introvert or extrovert.
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.
Leanne O'Neil, owner of INDY Neurofeedback, weighs in. “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.
Being an introvert can be challenging at times. Because they often prefer quiet or alone time, some introverts can seem cold, aloof, or even antisocial to others that are more extroverted in nature.
Studies show that its silence, not collaboration, that leads to accelerated learning. Here's why introverts learn faster.
Introverts are actually great team leaders, but they are also successful when working independently. Since introverts have often struggled to get their true talents seen and appreciated, they are generally quite respectful of the different working styles and preferences of others. Introverts don't give up easily.
Independence. Unique and fiercely independent, introverts are more inclined to let their own inner resources guide them than follow the crowd. We do our best work — and are our happiest — when we have the freedom to explore ideas, spend time alone, and be self-directed and independent.
For introverts, acetylcholine is where it's at
It powers our abilities to think deeply, reflect, and focus intensely on just one thing for a long period of time. It also helps explain why introverts like calm environments—it's easier to turn inward when we're not attending to external stimulation.
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.