Helping Society Understand the Introvert
Introverts In An Extroverted World |
You may have heard of the terms "introvert" or "extrovert", but what do they mean? Introverts and extroverts are two different personality types. Introverted people tend to be more quiet, creative, and better thinkers while extroverted people are more outgoing, social, and active. Both personalities have their benefits, but there are still areas where they don't work together at all. For example, introverts are great listeners and extroverts are great leaders, but extroverts may seem overbearing to introverts while introverts may seem boring to extroverts. Because of these two contrasting character traits, introverts feel almost constantly overwhelmed by extroverts around them because of their own, more introspective personality. Extroverts are the more noticed of the two, so society is shaped more towards extroverted character types, leaving introverts to find a way to be themselves in a world that isn't used to being quiet.
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ENJOY SPENDING TIME ALONE
AVOID THE CENTER OF ATTENTION NEED TIME ALONE TO RECHARGE LISTEN BEFORE SPEAKING FOCUSED SEEN AS RESERVED EASILY OVERSTIMULATED |
PREFER SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
OUTGOING AND TALKATIVE LIKE BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION DON'T LIKE BEING UNDER STIMULATED FRIENDLY AND LIKEABLE PREFER ACTION EASILY DISTRACTED |
The Problem Today's society values the outgoing and bubbly personality types of the extrovert, while the more silent and reserved introvert is seen as a problem case or unwell. Because of this, introverts are constantly pressured to be something they're not. Society says people need to be a part of conversation and have a large friend group. Though this is necessary for extroverts to function, it is something introverts spend much of their time avoiding. This pressure from society needs to change so that introverts can feel comfortable in their own skin; so they don't have to live their lives exerting themselves to live up to societal standards.
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