What Does it Mean to Be an Introvert?

Introverts are a group often misunderstood by others and poorly portrayed in popular media. According to an article from VeryWell Mind, 25 to 40 percent of individuals are introverts. With so many introverts in the population, it’s surprising how much they remain misunderstood by others.

The guide below will tell you what it means when someone is an introvert. You’ll learn about the history of introversion in psychology and some key signs that you might be an introvert.

After that, you’ll learn about some different types of introverts and the most common misconceptions others have about introversion.

Theories of Introversion

Introversion has a longstanding history in psychological studies. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, was one of the earliest pioneers in differentiating between introverts and extroverts. He believed that introversion happens when a person tends to get energy from looking toward their inner world instead of seeking external stimulation.

On the other hand, extroverts get energy when they spend time with others. The stimulation they get from social interactions gives them energy and keeps them motivated.

While introverts tend to need time alone to “recover” from social interactions, extroverts need social interaction to fuel other parts of their lives.

6 Common Traits of Introverts

While introverts can vary greatly between individuals, they often have some (or all) of the following traits. Since people can have different levels of introversion or extroversion, these traits can also be present in differing levels.

1. They feel drained by large groups.

When an introvert spends time in a large group, they may feel drained of energy afterward. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll actively avoid large groups.

In many cases, introverts will spend time in large groups and then spend time in solitude to recover from the interactions.

2. They enjoy time alone.

Solitude is very important for introverts. If you ask them to describe their ideal day, they might talk about spending an afternoon with a book or an evening enjoying their hobbies. While introverts value friendships, they get their energy from time spent alone.

Because of this, it’s common for introverts to have hobbies that don’t require anyone else to enjoy. They might love reading, writing, crafting, or playing video games.

These things will give them the energy they need to fulfill commitments and engage in social activities.

3. They may be quiet and reserved.

It’s a major misconception that all introverts are quiet and reserved. While it’s important to note that some introverts may be outgoing, many introverts tend to be quieter and more reserved than their extroverted counterparts.

Introversion is not the same as shyness, but many introverts may also be shy. Introverts can be quiet and reserved for a number of reasons. Some are quieter because they’d rather observe a social situation than actively participate.

Since they often think before they speak, introverts may appear quiet and reserved to others. Their close friends may see a very different side to them, however.

4. They tend to foster relationships with a small group of close friends.

There are people who walk into a room and instantly make friends with everyone present. Those people are often extroverts. While extroverts befriend just about everyone, introverts tend to nurture relationships with a small group of close friends.

People often misunderstand this introvert trait, believing that introverts are antisocial. Introverts are not antisocial. Instead, they carefully choose the relationships they want to invest in, since each social interaction pulls from their limited energy resources.

Because of this, introverts often prefer to spend time one-on-one or with a small group of friends.

Friends of introverts will often paint a different picture of them than the rest of the world. While most people may see a reserved and quiet person, an introvert’s closest friends will often see a loud, outgoing, and passionate person.

5. They are usually more self-aware than extroverts.

Introverts typically spend their free time alone with their inner thoughts and feelings. Because of this, they often have a better grasp of their own thoughts and feelings.

They use this self-awareness to control their actions. Most introverts think carefully before thinking, ensuring that they don’t say something thoughtless that they’ll regret later.

When they’re alone, they often spend time thinking about their social interactions and what they said and did. By closely looking at all of their thoughts, emotions, and actions, they’re able to understand themselves and make changes to their behavior when necessary.

6. They prefer occupations that allow them to work independently.

Introverts often thrive in jobs and careers that allow them to do their work with minimal interpersonal interaction.

They make great writers, artists, graphic designers, programmers, accountants, content creators, and more. These jobs allow them to do their work alone, allowing them to bring more energy to their work.

During their school years, introverts often prefer assignments that allow them to work alone. Group projects are often frustrating and difficult, since they must navigate both the assignment and the connected social interactions.

A study found that introverts are more easily distracted than extroverts, something that contributes to their preference for solo work. Since distractions can disrupt their workflow, they prefer to work away from other people and noisy environments.

Different Kinds of Introverts

In an article about introverts from WebMD, they describe four different types of introverts.

Introverts do not fit neatly into categories, although describing different types of introverts is a helpful way to broaden public perception about what constitutes an introvert.

Introversion looks different between people. These four kinds of introverts provide a helpful framework for understanding these differences.

Social Introverts

These introverts do well in small groups and quiet settings. Although they are rarely seen in large crowds (if they can help it), they often spend a significant amount of time with their core friend group.

While these close friends may describe them as introverts, they may also describe them as loud and outgoing.

Thinking Introverts

These introverts are people who like to spend their time daydreaming. They often have creative imaginations and a complex inner life.

While they may be absorbed by their daydreaming, these introverts can make great writers and artists.

Anxious Introverts

Anxious introverts tend to spend time alone because they need to recharge and because they feel shy and awkward around other people.

Social situations can be intimidating, since they often aren’t sure of what to say or do.

Restrained (or Inhibited) Introverts

These introverts think through everything before they act. They usually take more time to reach decisions or make choices, since they carefully consider all the possible consequences of their actions.

They don’t like being forced to make hasty decisions, since they prefer to think through their choices.

Introverts AREN’T “Just Shy”

It’s a common misconception that introverts are just shy around others. On the contrary, many introverts may have loud and outgoing personalities.

Introverts are people who primarily get their energy from time spent alone. That doesn’t mean they dislike social interactions, only that they need time to recharge after spending time with others.

One study found that introverts may actually have better interpersonal skills than extroverts. Since they often spend their time observing others, they are usually better at predicting reactions from others in social situations. This allows them to read others and respond appropriately. Because introverts often think before they speak, they’re less likely to make a conflict worse with their thoughtless words.

Psychology Today published an article about how introverts often have a higher emotional intelligence (EQ) than extroverts. Since their introspective nature allows them to analyze their thoughts, emotions, and actions, introverts often have high EQs. The article by Psychology Today urges extroverts to learn some things from their introverted colleagues.

Conclusion

People have a lot of misconceptions when it comes to introverts. Introverts are often portrayed as shy and withdrawn in media, when the exact opposite can be true.

At the core, introverts are people who get their energy from time spent alone. Outside of that one key factor, they can have a myriad of other personality traits.

With that said, there are many traits that are more common in introverts than extroverts. Introverts often feel drained by large groups and enjoy spending time alone. They use their social energy to foster a small group of close friends and prefer jobs that allow them to work alone.

Although they can be shy and reserved, many introverts have thriving interpersonal relationships because of their high emotional intelligence.