introverts/extroverts - interesting article

27 March 2012 Last updated at 17:50

Do we really give introverts a hard time? By Vanessa Barford
BBC News Magazine


In a group situation, it's not necessarily the talkers who have the best ideas It is often assumed extroverts do best in life, but according to a new best-selling book, introverts are just as high achievers. It claims there is a bias towards extroverts in Western society. So do we discriminate against introverts?

Barack Obama, JK Rowling and Steve Wozniak.

They might not immediately stand out as introverts, but according to Susan Cain, American author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts In a World That Can't Stop Talking, they are.

That is because she says, contrary to popular opinion, introverts are not necessarily shy or anti-social, they just prefer environments that are not over-stimulating and get their energy from quiet time and reflection.

Conversely, extroverts need to be around other people to recharge their batteries.

Cain argues that although a third of the population are introverts, most institutions, from schools to workplaces, are geared towards extroverts, while introverts are often undervalued or misunderstood.

Extroverts are typically seen as outgoing, confident and happy to join in conversation
Introverts are thought of as quiet and inwardly thoughtful
One school of thought, first popularised by Carl Jung, and later adopted by the authors of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality tests, says everyone falls into one camp or another
A second school of thought argues there is a scale of extroversion
"Whether it is job adverts using words such as 'upbeat, people person and team players', practices like open-plan offices or brainstorming, the overall ability to put yourself out there is the great value of the age.

"But research shows there is no correlation between the most talkative person in the room and the best ideas," she says.

The self-identified introvert says there is a similar pattern in schools, where speaking up in class, group work and "show and tells" is emphasised.

She also cites studies which suggest that the majority of teachers think the ideal student is an extrovert, and more extroverts are groomed for leadership positions in the workplace.


Mark Dykeman says he learnt how to act like an extrovert in meetings Her book, which hopes to rehabilitate the introvert, has struck a chord with readers and sparked a debate among commentators and armchair psychologists, while her TED talk has been watched by 1.5 million viewers.

In American magazine Wired, Clive Thompson thinks Cain's book might help introverts get a better reputation. But in the New York Times, introvert author Judith Warner argues that a "more quiet argument" would have been much more effective.

Meanwhile the Guardian's Jon Ronson is bemused that after concluding his whole family are ambiverts - which Cain defines as a mixture of extrovert and introvert - the group barely gets a mention in the book.

One introvert who can relate to Cain's campaign is Mark Dykeman, an IT business analyst from Canada. The 42-year-old, who has written a number of blogs on introversion, agrees there are plus points to being an introvert, but says it can be difficult.

"At university there was a lot of encouragement and pressure to socialise with other people. I was OK with that for short periods of time, but after a certain point it became very tiring.

"It wasn't until I was in the workforce and I had training that I started to understand the difference between introverts and extroverts. It opened my eyes to how I'd been thinking about certain situations, and gave me a bit of comfort," he says.

Dykeman says he found it difficult to voice an opinion in meetings earlier on in his career, but soon realised he needed to speak up and make points.

"I learnt how to act like an extrovert. I think a lot of people learn the rules of the game learn to function.

"It can be a bit harder, but everyone can contribute. I'd suggest anyone that does feel uncomfortable in public settings educates themselves on introversion," he says.


Susan Cain tags JK Rowling and Barack Obama as introverts Felicity Lee, a chartered occupational psychologist, says it is perfectly possible for introverts to try to act like an extrovert, but it will be more tiring for them.

American and Canadian culture tends to value the qualities of extroverts more than other cultures, but Lee thinks a bias towards extroversion also exists in the workplace and wider society in Britain.

But she says just because someone is an extrovert, it does not necessarily mean they do extroversion well.

"Someone can be an extrovert or an introvert and very self-aware and socially skilled. Or they can be very unaware. Extroversion has nothing to do with emotional intelligence, or competence," she says.

Lee also points out that there is evidence to suggest that whatever the psychological nuances, most people just want to be an extrovert.

"In the 1990s, when the Myers-Briggs personality type test went through validation with UK and Europe distributors, 92% of people said it was better to be extrovert, even though only half of the population is extrovert in the type version," she says.

Anecdotally, when you go back to the school playground, children would probably say it is better to be an extrovert - to be social and have friends, she adds.

Jo Silvester, a professor of organisational psychology at Cass Business School, says it is easy to see why such desirability exists.

She says most organisations looking to recruit would steer towards extroverts, on the assumption that they make better leaders.

But Silvester says some industries do not necessarily attract the types of personalities people might think.

"Politicians for example are a lot more introverted. In politics it doesn't pay to show all of your cards too quickly, and introverts are more willing to stand back and listen and take extra time to come up with a conclusion.

"People would probably assume sales requires extroversion, because they deal with a lot of people all of the time. But if somebody is selling to research chemists, they might need to be more introverted, as people tend to get on best with people like themselves," she says.


Many people prefer a "doer" to someone who likes to contemplate However, Richard Dodd, at the British Retail Consortium, says the notion of dividing people up into extroverts and introverts is over-simplistic as there are many more variables in people's characters.

He thinks people naturally tend to gravitate towards jobs that suit their personal qualities and make the best use of their abilities.

But he says most successful teams and workplaces have a mixture of individuals with a range of characteristics and qualities.

"There is a place for selling yourself and making sure your achievements are recognised in most jobs, which might be easier for some personality types than others," he says.

"But I think in successful organisations the approach to management and appraisal is to be able to get beyond the superficial impression, and to make sure people's contributions are identified and recognised - regardless of whether people are shouting from the rooftops."



Cain's 'introverts'
Barack Obama - "Obama's not a shy introvert, but he is one. In his book, Dreams From My Father, he identifies himself with a lonely old man who lives in his building," says Susan Cain. "Introversion has been one of his assets. He plans his campaigns intricately and gives very cerebral speeches."
Steven Wozniak - Cain says we often associate Steve Jobs with Apple because of his dazzling statements, but Wozniak is credited with designing much of the first Apple computer by himself. "He still advises people to work in solitude," Cain says.
JK Rowling - "The Harry Potter author has described herself as an introvert, particularly when she refers to her childhood,"

I think most authors are introverts, that is a very solitary job that requires you to work alone for many many long hours at a time. I dont think most extroverts could tolerate writing books all the time, it wouldnt provide them with enough stimulation from other people

I think this article is pretty spot on. I have a book all about it but focuses more on introversion. I think there are also people who are def in between the two.

In the book I have there is a test to take to determine what you are and to what degree. I already knew I was an introvert, but I wanted to see to what degree I am. I was def more on the higher end of introversion. I remember I was with Cedric at that time and I had him take the test but before he did I predicted he would be a person who is in the middle but who is slightly more inclined to extroversion and that is exactly how his results came out.

I love being an introvert. I have learned to be extroverted at times, but I am still very much introverted. I am the only true introvert in my immediate family and I like that I am different from the rest of them.

Introverts ROCK!!!

I am sure everyone has traits from both, no one is 100% introvert or extrovert. According to those I am n introvert but I am also very chatty and social. I just need a lot of alone time too.

no but most people are almost completely to one side or the other. And then there are a small group of people who fall in the middle. Extroverts make up almost 2/3 of the population. Introverts and middles make up the rest

I'm definitely an introvert, you just learn how to be more social as you go along because as it says that is the norm. I've really had to push myself and put myself into uncomfortable situations but it gets easier the more you can do this.

exactly jane, that is what I had to do as well.

I am becoming more extroverted with my voice-coaching, it's easier to get people's attention when you have a louder voice, and you can always literally shout them down if you want to!

The other day I actually had to roll my eyes at someone who used the "introvert" card like she was allergic or something. You can call yourself anything you want but sometimes 'just shut up and go'.

actually I never gave thought until now what my boyfriend is. I almost always am with men who are extroverts, it is easier to be with them because they can pull me out of my shell, they lead the charge which I prefer and often need. With introverts in a relationship, I have a harder time because I always have to push them.

But I just realized that my boyfriend is very introverted. I think he is more so than I am, yet I never feel like I have to "lead the charge" and always create the conversation, etc. Even though we are both introverts, there is a very nice flow to our relationship that doesnt get boring or require a lot of work. I think that is a first for me with another introvert.

Judge Jane wrote:

I'm definitely an introvert, you just learn how to be more social as you go along because as it says that is the norm. I've really had to push myself and put myself into uncomfortable situations but it gets easier the more you can do this.

Said the woman at the table with a flaming napkin and rowdies.

I have no defence to that! I wasn't rowdy myself though!