We like to think that we value individuality, but mostly we admire the type of individual who’s comfortable “putting himself out there.” Our schools, workplaces, and religious institutions are designed for extroverts. Can you explain what you mean?Ĭain: In our society, the ideal self is bold, gregarious, and comfortable in the spotlight. The traits do overlap, though psychologists debate to what degree.Ĭook: You argue that our culture has an extroversion bias. Shyness is inherently uncomfortable introversion is not.
Shyness is the fear of negative judgment, while introversion is simply the preference for less stimulation. It’s also important to understand that introversion is different from shyness. Introverts even salivate more than extroverts do if you place a drop of lemon juice on their tongues! So an introvert is more likely to enjoy a quiet glass of wine with a close friend than a loud, raucous party full of strangers. Stimulation comes in all forms – social stimulation, but also lights, noise, and so on. She recently answered questions from Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook.Ĭook: This may be a stupid question, but how do you define an introvert? How can somebody tell whether they are truly introverted or extroverted?Ĭain: Not a stupid question at all! Introverts prefer quiet, minimally stimulating environments, while extroverts need higher levels of stimulation to feel their best. We live in a nation that values its extroverts – the outgoing, the lovers of crowds – but not the quiet types who change the world. Do you enjoy having time to yourself, but always feel a little guilty about it? Then Susan Cain’s “ Quiet : The Power of Introverts” is for you.
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