Top ten myths about introverts
 

There are probably a fair few people here who would describe themselves as 'Introverts' with this being a webmaster forum, so you might find this interesting.

Myth #1 ? Introverts don?t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don?t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won?t shut up for days.

Myth #2 ? Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don?t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don?t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 ? Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don?t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 ? Introverts don?t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you?re in.

Myth #5 ? Introverts don?t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don?t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don?t need to be there for long to ?get it.? They?re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 ? Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don?t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 ? Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don?t follow the crowd. They?d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don?t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 ? Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It?s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it?s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 ? Introverts don?t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 ? Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
Introverts cannot ?fix themselves? and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

So, are you in or are you Auschwitz?

http://www.crookedmonkey.com/uploade...uno-775938.jpg

:1orglaugh

I am an introvert or as I was once told: inner directed. I prefer to spend my time alone OR with ONE other person, but not continually. I've been single for over 20 years and do not get lonely. after shooting all day and interacting with models, assistants, agents, nothing suits me more than sending them away and relaxing by myself... swimming, reading, watching TV, playing bass, writing etc..

Introverts of the world unite!

Or not.

Most of those describe me, though #5 and #9 do not.

most of those describe me as well.

Myth #5 is me, I do need to recharge; I don't like to be around people all day, I need somewhere to escape to

that list makes it look cool to be introverted.

I was VERY much an introvert all the way until after high school. Still am, but not as much.

Maybe the list is right :winkwink:

I'm a psychopath !

AND I'M NOT ! INTROVERTED !

that's what i,m sayin! it's so right it makes it all look cool when i find most of those points to be a struggle in the real world.

How many out of 10 for you dyna mo?

I'm an introvert. People get confused because I can thrive in any social situation but I hate social situations.

I also want to be an extrovert. It's an internal struggle for me. But I'd be perfectly content never having to leave the house again.

Some interesting comments coming in

Personality should be considered continuous rather than categorical (traits vs types).

Let say a scale of 0 means extremely introverted to a scale of 10 means extremely extroverted. Just like everything in general, people usually fall in the middle numbers (4-6). :)

Or you are not just been able to be yourself with other people and you could start to use:

http://chzichcafterdark.files.wordpr...f1e12dd35b.jpg

:2 cents:

Good post, Thanks! :thumbsup

Fair Point :1orglaugh

:thumbsup

Interesting point, I did a test once and I was meant to be exactly on the boundary between introvert and extrovert, but they wouldn't allow me to be there, they said I had to choose one or the other

Do you have a degree in psychology?

every one.

I'll admit, me too! Back when I was growing up, I was pretty average in the classroom, it was only when I eventually started studying in the evenings on my own that things changed. People who had previously written me off academically couldn't believe the change. It's the same in the workplace too, if I'm in an open plan environment in a team, I'm nothing special, but if you leave me locked away in my room I'll do a high level of work. I like to do things my way too

I match most if those. Some are funny because they don't really rebut the "myth", but rather explain it. For example, "introverts are rude" goes on to explain why the "myth" is true. That's true of me. Naturally, I'm rude. Being polite, adding uneccesary words like "would you please" requires attention and effort for me.
"Introverts are aloof nerds," that's me.

It explains that IQ is often associated with introversion, though not always, and that describes me. I suck at some things, like art, and I know I'm lazy, so I'm hopefully I'm not being conceited when I say that my ugly face is balanced by an extremely high IQ.

I guess I must be a textbook introvert.

Cool, I can live with that.

Yes. And I'm applying for grad school the end of next year. :)


That could be Social Loafing, in which people put more effort when they work alone than in a group, but that applies to for example a personal project vs a group project so not sure if that matches your case.

That could also be Social Facilitation, in which people do better on things that they are already good at, when there are more people watching. For things they they are not good at, it's better for them to work alone.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_loafing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_facilitation

i've concluded that i was born more extroverted but environments and events fostered my introversion, thus the internal struggle.

Thanks for that cutedimples, very interesting. It is something that I'd like to understand more as when I was young I was mainly playing sports and being average in the classroom. At around 17 I decided I better get some qualifications, that's when I started locking myself away in my room to learn. Eventually ended up finishing highest in the UK for Advanced Level Mathematics, all went very well from there on up, but lectures were always pretty much a waste of time for me, all that mattered was what I studied on my own.

You're welcome! :small-smi And same here, I study better on my own too becuz I get distracted easily. But there are things that I do better around people also, wink wink! lol

I do like in-class learning. It depends on the teachers! Most of the time a great teacher makes a difference!

I too was always distracted by people, trying to suss them out

people are the worst!

That list pretty much has me nailed. Damn.

I'm quite introverted, with most of those things on the list sounding like me. I've often felt that introverts get the shaft. Extroverts get lines like, "oh they're a real people person" or, "ya, he's the life of the party!". Introverts get "he's shy" or "that guys pretty anti social".

After a day out with friends, I chill alone at home the next day by myself to recharge. It's just as invigorating and restorative as sleep.

Edit: Mindless small talk bores me to death and I pretty much disappear mentally when in a conversation when it is taking place. Hopefully I'm not drooling. I've also noticed that if someone call tell me about something quick and concise, I suddenly find them interesting to talk to. People who drag a two or three minute story into a 30 minute speech... HOW DO THEY DO THAT AND HOW CAN THEY KEEP TALKING!?

Nice post, i think i'm in!

This is not an introvert myth list... at all... in the slightest...

This list can apply to introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts...

My Mom says I'm handsome

Some yes and some no.

I know few of them and their are good people :)

You just made me realize I'm an introvert

In the current total social transparency to think in those terms (extravert/introvert) it's so naive ...

Ditto.

I was a shy kid but not too shy. I just didn't discover my "voice" to express what I wanted to say until later. I can be the life of a party; social, friendly, shit I've been in porn technically but above all else I tend to like being in my own thoughts and I don't get lonely either as someone just described. It's interesting. I respect extroverts but tend to prefer deal with people like that in small doses.

They're good people.

Replace introvert with alcoholic and read the results.