What are asocial people like? Psychological characteristics and traits

Most of us know someone who tends to avoid social interaction situations.. And if not, maybe we are that person. In any case, this behavior may be motivated by an asocial personality trait. Thus, in this article we will talk precisely about them.

Since the beginning, It is important to know that “asocial” does not mean the same as “antisocial.” As we will see later, these terms refer to very different concepts. One is related to a tendency in personality, while the other is linked to pathological behaviors.

This is how asocial people are

Human beings need contact with others to survive.. Thanks to group collaboration, we can adapt faster and better to the environment. For this reason, social ties constitute a significant part of any person’s well-being. In fact, there are studies that indicate that loneliness and chronic isolation are harmful to health.

However, that does not mean that everyone enjoys social contacts in the same way. Just as there are people with a very active social life, others prefer to spend more time alone. We could define this last group as asocial. This term is used to talk about people who have little interest in social relationships..

So, the first thing we must understand about what asocial people are like is that it is a personality tendency. It is not a mental disorder, but rather a trait that can occur with greater or lesser intensity.

On the other hand, the fact of being asocial does not mean that these people do not have friends.. Someone with this tendency may have friends, but it will most likely be a small group. Additionally, you may not do activities with them as often. Next, we will see a series of traits or characteristics of asocial people.

1. Independent and self-sufficient

Since they prefer to avoid socializing, it makes sense that someone who is asocial would be more independent and self-sufficient. If they learn to do things for themselves, then they do not need to ask someone else for help.

Thus, they satisfy their desire to reduce social contact only for important matters.. For this reason, it is not unusual for asocial people to be good at tasks that require great concentration, such as assimilating knowledge.

2. Creative

Another interesting aspect that usually stands out in asocial people is their creative capacity. Because they spend much of their time alone, they can have an active imagination..

Likewise, by reducing social interaction, they have more opportunities to connect with their own emotions and thoughts. Consequently, it is common for them to carry out artistic activities such as painting, writing poetry or novels, etc.

3. Shy

Shyness is a characteristic that can occur in people with asocial traits. Because of their preference to limit social contact, they may feel embarrassed or afraid when they should. However, this is not the case in all cases; there are people with asocial tendencies who do not feel anxiety at all when socializing.

4. They reject the crowd

If we consider the above, It is evident and normal for someone with asocial tendencies to feel rejection by large crowds.. We are unlikely to meet such people in places like a nightclub, crowded bazaars, etc. Events where large numbers of people attend are not common options for them.

5. They prefer quiet environments

Places where there is a large amount of stimuli tend to be uncomfortable for people with asocial personality traits. By will, we are more likely to find them in quiet places, like a library or a museum. They can also enjoy outdoor landscapes where the concentration of people is not as high as in the city.

6. They are careful with the information they share

Another trait that is usually present in asocial people is caution when sharing information, especially when it is personal. This has to do with their inclination for independence and self-sufficiency..

“After all, if I am capable of solving my problems or issues on my own, why do I need to tell that to anyone else?” That is a possible reasoning for someone who is asocial.

Why are people asocial?

Personality is a construct that involves different psychological processes and its definition may vary depending on the authors. But, There is evidence that up to 50% of personality is hereditary.. Therefore, it means that genes determine a very important part of who we are and how we will act in various situations.

In this sense, Hobgood (2021) published a work on the influence of the ABO B gene on introversion. This gene would participate in the process that defines a person’s blood group.. The findings indicated that those who expressed this gene tended to be more asocial than the rest.

At the same time, let us remember that genes are not determining factors. For example, a person may have the genetic makeup to have an excellent musical ear. But, if you do not receive musical stimulation during your life, this gene will most likely never be expressed. Starting from that, it is possible to affirm that education also has a significant weight.

Different between asocial and antisocial

The mistake is often made of using the word “antisocial” as a synonym for asocial, but they are not the same. People with antisocial tendencies do not avoid socializing because they don’t like it, but rather they have a deep aversion to society. In this way, they have little or no respect for rules, laws, or other people’s rights.

In extreme cases, antisocial traits can constitute a picture of antisocial personality disorder. In general, those who suffer from this clinical condition usually face constant problems with the law.

Now that we’ve seen what asocial people are like, you can probably differentiate them from antisocial people without problems. Again, it is necessary to emphasize that asocial behavior is not a disorder in itself, although it may be characteristic of certain clinical conditions.

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