Who Is An Introvert- The 1 Science Behind The Silence Post

Introduction – Who Is an Introvert?

Have you ever been called shy, too serious or even a party pooper when you prefer to have serious talks during the dinner table than being in places such as under the disco lights where nobody takes anything serious? Chances are, then, that you are neither rude, nor scared, but merely an introvert. In a society where success is synonymous with being outspoken, bold, and socially switched on, introverts are the silent heroes that hardly make an appearance in the limelight – not because they are hopelessly deficient of views, but because they have considered their thoughts before uttering a single word.

Introvert Definition

Introvert is a Latin term that is made by combining the words Intro (inward) and Vertere (to turn). Introversion as such was first defined by a psychologist, Carl Jung in 1921 as being inwardly centered on ideas, feelings, and impressions rather to the outward variables of people and activities in contrast to the extroversion (Jung, Psychological Types, 1921). However, contemporary science has stretched the theory of Jung way beyond labels.

Psychologists have a different view of introversion today, recognizing it as a biologically predetermined quirk of character, which depends not only on the brain chemistry and the way it is wired but also on genes (Cain, 2012).

It is not a mood. It is not just being shy. It is the way that the whole nervous system of a person is set.

The Scientific Reason Behind The Silence

Therefore, introvert nervous system explained

Here is what neuroscience says:

• Introverts are more sensitive to the brain chemical that brings rewards, dopamine. Where extroverts require stimulation to feel good (get out, go social, party and so on). The introverts require less stimulation to feel full and are much more likely to find things overstimulating and overwhelming (Depue & Collins, 1999). It works more like an in-built espresso shot; you do not need a triple shot to be social so that you can become wired.

• An fMRI scan revealed that introverts had increased blood activity on the frontal lobe, the section of the brain that is involved in profound thought, inner contemplation and strategizing (Johnson et al., 1999). That is why you can often see them looking into nothing, they are not daydreaming, but rather day-annihilating.

• Introverts are also more likely to activate the parasympathetic nervous system which is the rest and digest response. This is the reason they can be tired after a social situation that is high-energy literally.

In the real-life example, the VITAGE score was collected and analysed to understand the power of these tools. Your outgoing friend might get energized after five hours in a wedding, talking to 30 friends. By the second hour, however you are exhausted, and are already scheming how to extricate yourself. It is not that you are broken, you are neurologically designed to survive in low-stimulation conditions.

Introversion Is a Continuum -Not A Box

It is time to debunk one of the biggest myths: You are either introvert or extrovert. The vast majority occupy the grey area with a degree of leaning on one side or the other given circumstances (APA, 2021). The latter is called ambiversion, a person who manifests both introvert and extrovert characteristics.

With that said, the proper introverts always demonstrate the following tendencies:

• The need to have personal time to re-energise

• Intending to have quality individual chats Not making small talk as it is a social plague Seeing then hearing

• Liking and doing things such as reading, journal keeping, painting, or other long individualistic walks

• Not liking to be in spotlight

Here is how you can think of it: when the idea of staying home at the end of a week with a book makes you more excited than going out with a crowd on Friday, chances are high that you are on the way of becoming an introvert, and you are in the first-class compartment.

Why the Topic is More Important Than Ever Before:

In a modern hyper-socialized and ultra-connected society, Psychology of introverts is pressured to do the following things: break shell, talk more, or network like a boss. And yet suppose their strongest elements are precisely out of that shell? Introverts are the thinkers, the writers, the planners, the listeners, the designers, the analysts, the quiet movers and shakers behind the scene who keep the world together.

They are, however, constantly misinterpreted. This is why the article is important. We do not merely decode introversion, but we are simply becoming a fan of it. And we are doing it with science, actual examples, charts, and bit of truth.

This Guide What You Will Learn

What is scientifically an introvert?
The difference in introvert brains (up to the mapping of brains and dopamine!) The 4 different introverts
Daily patterns of behaviour and their distinction to that of shyness
The most popular introvert myths
Notorious introverts whom you might not have known were introverted
And suggestions on how to survive as an introvert, or with an introvert

Science of Introversion

Being an introvert is not something that a person likes, a character trait or a side-effect of social anxiety, introversion is a brain-wired trait. Research in neuroscience and even psychology has until now aided us in recognising the fact that on a biological level, introverts assimilate information, react to stimuli and interact socially in different ways. introvert dopamine acetylcholine balance is explained in thus section.

What makes introverts introverts is a very interesting brain science that we shall venture into.

1. Reward System and Dopamine Sensitivity

Among the largest biological aspects of introverts versus extroverts is a reaction to dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that determines reward and motivation.

Extroverts are less sensitive to dopamine, which put in other words implies that they require more external stimuli, such as meeting new people, loud settings or thrill – seeking, to feel good.
Introverts, on the contrary, feel more sensitive to dopamine. Minute stimulation may produce the effect of overwhelmed or anxious (Depue & Collins, 1999).

Example: An introvert may find it too stimulating to handle a noisy birthday party with 15 people where an extrovert is only getting warmed up.

2. Acetylcholine & Intrinsic reward

Introverts do not use dopamine only. Their main reward system is dependent on acetylcholine that is a neurotransmitter connected to inner orientation, relaxation, and focus. Reflective thinking, reading, learning and going into deep focus all increase acetylcholine activity. That is why introverts usually like associated with less active, mental activities that do not entail external stimulation. Real life situation: An introvert will find it renewing to write a journal or research a trendy subject rather than a networking event.

3. Blood Flow & Brain Structure

Neuroscientists have also identified brain anatomical variation in the mind of introverts and extroverts. Psychologist Debra L. Johnson (1999) found in a study performed in 1999 that when introverts view an object, more of their blood flows to the frontal lobe, which is the section of the brain associated with complex problem-solving, long-term planning, and regulation of the emotions (Johnson et al., 1999).

On the other hand, extroverts have more blood flow going to the posterior thalamus which processes the senses stimuli, so that is why extroverts are more in-tune with their environment and only like to do a lot of external things.

4. Cortical Arousal

The Theory of Eysenck According to Hans Eysenck, a psychologist (1967) introverts were believed to possess increased cortical state of arousal. It implies that their brains are going to be more awake and responsive to what is happening around them- even when there is silence. They also prefer not to be in over stimulating situations because they are already subjected to a good amount of internal stimulation.

Extroverts are less aroused to begin with and hence require more external stimuli to activate or rather say reach their most optimal arousal zone.

Consider it in following way: An introvert is attuned to an estimation radio channel already and additional static (crowds, noise and chaos) will just make him/her uncomfortable. Conversely, extroverts might have to turn the volume higher so that they can feel “in tune”.

5. Neural Pathways:

The Pre-Speech Thinking

The pathway is longer and more complex and information tends to be processed by an introvert utilising the right frontal insula and the frontal cortex.

This implies that an introvert goes deeper into the stimuli and this is why they take time to think, analyse and reflect before responding.
Extroverts tend to employ shorter and quicker neural circuits; thus, they react quickly yet have limited processing time.

In real life: In a situation where people are in a group discussion, an introvert will take a few moments after everyone has spoken before he can respond but it is not that he does not know what to say but the reason is that he is prudently filtering, assessing and building his line of thoughts to give his answers.

6. Genetics & Temperament:

The traits of personality such as introversion and extroversion are estimated at 30-60 percent heritable (Bouchard & Loehlin, 2001). This implies that genetics influences it to a big extent, but with time, personality is fashioned by life experiences and the surrounding environment.

Infants who possess a high reactive temperament i.e., who cry or complain when placed under new stimuli, are likely to grow into introverts at a later age (Kagan, 1994).

Research amongst separated identical twins have also revealed high correlations in their levels of introversion which is an additional indicator of a genetic component.

Example: A kid who runs during the birthday parties or dislikes loud sounds, or plays alone may become an introvert as an adult.

7. The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)

The dominance in introverts of the parasympathetic nervous system encourages the rest, digestion and energy conservation aspect of the nervous system as opposed to the extrovert fight or flight sympathetic reaction. There is parasympathetic dominance in introverts.

This renders introverts more sensitive to stress, noise and sensory overload.
It also gives a reason as to why they require time to recover following social interactions.

Example: An extrovert can also become drained after a lengthy work meeting or party; however, the introvert feels it not because he or she does not like people but because their system was fried out and now, they have to reboot.