The Plight of the Introvert

Are you an extrovert? If you love interacting with people, refer to yourself as a "people person," get your energy through interacting with other people; if you hate being alone, like to bounce your ideas off other people, confident and busy all the time, your extrovert side is probably dominant. Of course we all have some extroverted and introverted characteristics, but in many people one side or the other dominates. If your extroverted side dominates, you will reap many benefits, for the world is arranged for the extrovert. Others react positively to extroverts, find them chatty, friendly and outgoing, trustworthy, socially skilled, worthy of admiration and emulation.

So what about the poor introvert? Introverts seem designed by the Personality Gods to attract approbation to themselves. Introverts like to be alone. They jealously guard their physical space; they react badly when interrupted, need to think about everything, and they prefer to do it away from other people. They don't usually consult others to get their feedback before making a decision. They trust their own judgment. If you drop in on them without phoning first, they may show irritation. People say of them that they're "shy," or "aloof," or "unfriendly." While others embrace extroverts as "the way people ought to be," they shun introverts as "weird," or "ingrown," not to be trusted. Introverts don't have many friends. People say they are "grumpy." Introverts find it annoying when people constantly ask "What's wrong?" or "Don't you feel good?"

Introverts might also feel alienated because extroverts outnumber them three to one. They may feel badly about themselves because other people (confirmed extroverts every one!) give them sidelong glances as though to say, "What's wrong with you?"