Introverts, on the other hand, simply prefer not to spend lots of time interacting with other people. Introverts do appreciate being around people with whom they are close. They find engaging in "small talk" tedious, but do enjoy having deep, meaningful conversations. Introverts also tend to think before speaking.
Many introverted people do have several close friends, but the fact remains that introverts will always need time to recharge alone. Friends fulfill important social and emotional needs, but interaction can still drain your resources.
Friendships. It can be difficult for introverts to make new friends because getting to know someone takes so much energy. However, introverts don't need a wide circle of friends. They prefer one or two close friends, even though they may know many people and have many acquaintances.
Some people believe that introverts hate socializing and talking to people, but really, there are only a few things in life that we love more than a good conversation. A conversation that allows us to connect deeply with someone and make the time fly by. Those kinds of conversations recharge us and make us feel alive.
Being an introvert doesn't mean you aren't outgoing in the right situation. Being an introvert just means that you prefer socializing differently than extroverts. Typical introverts like to spend social time with small groups rather than large ones, which may feel overwhelming and draining to them.
There's a common misconception that introverts aren't social. In fact, introverts can be just as social as extroverts. The difference between the two is that introverts lose energy when they're around people and recharge by spending time alone, while extroverts gain energy by spending time with other people.
Being an introvert doesn't necessarily mean you're socially awkward, but the two do sometimes overlap. Certainly, as in my case, the fear of feeling anxious and awkward in social settings can cause us to lean into our introversion.
When they feel that the person they are interacting with shares similar preferences and insights (for any topic or matter), those introverts become excited to share more of their thoughts. They might end up talking a lot, especially if it's something that the introvert is truly passionate about.
Angry Introverts are in a sensitive state, and they can easily become overstimulated by too much social contact. Interestingly, Introverts won't usually respond to their anger by leaving altogether.
Public speaking is a performance
Generally speaking, a key difference between extroverts and introverts is that introverts tend to become overstimulated by too much external 'noise' and attention, while extroverts seem to thrive on it.
Unlike shy people, Introverts are not necessarily bound by fear. If Introverts choose not to speak, it's because they prefer not to rather than because they are afraid. The other side of that coin is that there is nothing basic to their makeup that stops Introverts from talking as much as they like.
In the Friendship section of our Life Satisfaction surveys, we ask, “How often do you go out accompanied by your friends?” Here are some notable results: 26% of Introverts and 44% of Extraverts say friends accompany them 80–100% of the time.
For many introverts, a strong sense of emotional intimacy and meaningful conversations are the most important aspects of true friendship — even if you and your friends don't see or talk to each other daily.
“Introverts prefer to have fewer friends,” says Dr. Dunbar. “They probably sort of hover around the 100 – 150 mark.” Robin Dunbar: And so I just, out of idle curiosity, thought, “Well, what happens if we stick human brains into this equation?” And when we did that, it gave this figure of 150.
Introverts can be perfectly happy alone, or terribly lonely in a crowd. But if introverts are at any particular risk for loneliness, it could be because we set a high bar for friendship. We desire and require deep connections and would rather be lonely alone than in a crowd.
They prefer quiet environments. Introverts feel most comfortable with a few close friends—some, in fact, actually dread crowds and will avoid large social gatherings at all costs.
Introverts get annoyed by small talk. Since conversations require energy, they often prefer conversations that allow them to go deeper in their relationships with other people. Small talk and vapid conversations about the weather and current events can seem tedious, draining, and even annoying.
Introverts tend to enjoy practicing and honing abilities at various activities, such as painting, website coding, woodworking, or a million other tasks. They enjoy relying on hobbies in which it is just them and the medium they are working with, unlike extroverts, for whom the medium is other people.
This means that introverts may process more information per second than extroverts, which helps explain why introverts are prone to overthinking.
Most introverts are largely independent and not clingy, and they're generally more inclined to be polite and considerate of the impact of their behavior on others. They tend to think before they speak, whereas extroverts may blurt the first things that come to mind.
On the contrary, introverts have attractive qualities because they're active listeners. They speak less and listen more, which gets people interested in them. What makes introverts attractive is their ability to observe beyond the words people speak. They pay close attention to details and are extremely prudent.
If you're an introvert, you likely possess emotional intelligence skills that your more gregarious counterparts secretly admire, and rightly so. Introverts are often misread as people who wish they could change.
An introvert hangover includes social fatigue, mental and physical exhaustion, and burnout felt by introverts after they have spent too much time socializing with others. This feeling occurs because introverts are drained by interactions with others and need time alone to recharge.