Introversion is not a disease

Every day a large percentage of society is overlooked and underestimated. It’s time to talk about introverts. Let’s start by defining who are introverts. Introversion is about greater comfort in calm situations or contexts, with little external stimulation. Extroverts, on the other hand, need higher levels of stimulation to feel better. The stimulus can be interpreted in several ways; social stimulation, but also noise, lights, movement, etc. Those who are introverted will always enjoy having a quiet drink with a close friend more than being at a noisy party full of strangers.

We must not confuse introversion with shyness. Shyness involves a fear of negative external judgment, while introversion is simply a preference for an environment with less stimulation. Shyness is always going to be something uncomfortable, but being an introvert is not. If being an introvert isn’t uncomfortable, then why do so many people see it as a bad thing? Either they try to change it, or cure it. Why is the preference for tranquility or little stimulation prejudged as something negative? If we stop to think and remember, this pseudo-absolutism has been around since we were little. Since we were children, those who preferred tranquility or being alone over all the noise or crowds of people were always seen in a bad light.

Being an extrovert or preferring group action to individual action is not bad, but neither is being an introvert. As a society we take it upon ourselves to establish the opposite. Our society rewards being extremely social or outgoing over anything else, even good ideas. Susan Cain, an author who has delved into this topic of introversion, says that “there is zero correlation between the one who talks better or more and the one who has better ideas.” According to Cain, more than a third of the population is introverted, but many of these people try to pass as extroverts, because society demands it.

The problem for Cain is that anyone who tries to pass themselves off as something they are not loses a part of themselves in that process. And in this case what he is losing is his real sense of how to spend time. A large part of introverts end up constantly doing activities in which they do not feel comfortable, or in which they would prefer to do other things, such as going to a party instead of staying at home reading a book.

Being an introvert is not about being anti-social, an introvert can be just as friendly or more friendly than another who greatly enjoys all of the aforementioned stimuli. It is time then that as a society we stop demanding something from those who do not enjoy it, and accept it. It is another personality trait, and should be accepted as such. Introversion is not a disease. Photography courtesy of: Jon Clegg