There's not just one way to be an introvert, Cheek now argues — rather, there are four shades of introversion: social, thinking, anxious, and restrained. And many introverts are a mix of all four types, rather than demonstrating one type over the others.
The truth is that most of us are Ambiverts, which means that we have some features of extroverts and some of introverts. And almost everyone would agree to that. Carl Jung, who came up with these terms, himself said that nobody can be a 100% extrovert or 100% introvert.
According to a study conducted in 2011, psychologists Jennifer Grimes, Jonathan Cheek, and Julie Norem challenged the idea that introversion is a blanket term, instead, dissecting it into four different types that impact people differently; social introverts, thinking introverts, anxious introverts, and restrained ...
In 2011, research by psychologists Jennifer Grimes, Jonathan Cheek, and Julie Norem broke introversion into four main types: social introvert, thinking introvert, anxious introvert, and restrained introvert.
It seems Extraverts rule in modern society, but academic studies suggest that anywhere between 30 and 50 percent of the population is Introverted. So even if you feel alone sometimes, you are not. Introversion is as normal and as common as Extraversion.
Sometimes referred to as the "Advocate" or the "Idealist," people with this personality type often feel misunderstood. Perhaps it's because INFJ is the rarest MBTI personality type, making up only 1% to 3% of the U.S. population.1 Or maybe it's because they're walking, talking contradictions.
Introversion isn't totally genetic. It gets influenced by your environment at a young age, and our genes allow a certain amount of flexibility in response. This happens through “set points,” which are the upper and lower limits of how much extroversion your brain can handle.
ISFJ. ISFJ's are quiet, conscientious, and kind.
People with high levels of thinking introversion don't share the aversion to social events people usually associate with introversion. Instead, this style of introversion just means a person who tends to be introspective, thoughtful, and self-reflective.
Other names they're known by include 'super introverts', 'true introverts', and 'hardcore introverts'. Those landing on the extreme side of the spectrum of introversion have traits that make others think something is wrong with them.
You're an introvert.
It gets better. As an adult, you now leverage your strength for processing, contemplating and thinking things over, which is a trait of highly intelligent people. In fact, more than 75 percent of people with an IQ above 160 are introverted.
Introverts tend to experience more anticipatory anxiety and anxiety disorders than extroverts. Anxiety typically means your stress response is constantly activated, even if there's no clear cause for it.
It is generally stated that about 70 percent of all highly sensitive people are introverts, but that as much as 30 percent are extroverts. So introversion and high sensitivity are not necessarily always linked. The sensitivity to stimuli is slightly different for introverts than for HSPs.
On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. But statistics show that around 70% of gifted people are introverts. People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math.
Around one-third to one-half of all people in the U.S. are introverts. Though it looks different in everyone, introverts have many of the same patterns of behavior. In general, introverts: Need quiet to concentrate.
Introversion is genetic
Many people believe that being an extrovert versus an introvert is due to their environment, but it is most likely due to genetic traits. An example of this is due to the genetic correlation of genes to stimulation alertness.
Introverts are deep thinkers.
Just like emotional regulation, this is a trait that becomes more attractive when someone has experienced its absence. If someone has been exhausted by the shallowness of another person, they'll be even more drawn to an introvert's depth.
Weaknesses: social anxiety, shyness, navigating a predominantly extroverted world.
Being an introvert is naturally attractive because others can trust them with their secrets and vulnerabilities. The type of confidence people have in introverts makes them stand out from the crowd.
INTP. According to Comen, both INTJs and INTPs are among the smartest, adding that thinking is actually "the primary life goal" for INTPs, as opposed to the key tool. These people are most likely to be engineers and mathematicians, Robledo says.
In terms of introversion and extroversion, research suggests that as we age, we become more introverted. This may be due to a variety of factors, such as increased wisdom and self-awareness, which can lead to a greater appreciation for solitude and time alone.
Practise mindfulness and self-awareness
Introverts tend to be introspective and reflective. Engaging in mindfulness practices, such as meditation, journaling or positive affirmations can help you become more self-aware and improve your overall well-being.
A 2020 study published in the Journal of Research in Personality found that people can't really change their personality. The researchers suggest that even if you, for example, adopt some extroverted behaviors, you'll fall back on your original introverted ways when you are exhausted, tired, stressed, or anxious.