As we age, our personalities tend to become more stable and less likely to change. This means that as we get older, we become more set in our ways and less likely to change our attitudes or behaviors. In terms of introversion and extroversion, research suggests that as we age, we become more introverted.
In a post on Quiet Revolution, Cain confirms what you've probably suspected all along—we act more “introverted” as we age. Psychologists call this phenomenon “intrinsic maturation,” and it means our personalities become more balanced as we get older—“a kind of fine wine that mellows with age,” writes Cain.
Unlike temperament, which is more stable, our personalities change as we age, learn, and grow. Introversion is considered a temperament — a general way of approaching the world — so for the vast majority of people, it won't change dramatically over time. Once an introvert, always an introvert.
Traumatic or impactful events can change you. Yes, it's true, many types of emotional trauma can cause a person to become more introverted. Even something as small as loud noise can change the way that someone acts.
Costa and McCrae's work has found that from about age 18 to 30, people tend to become more neurotic, more introverted, and less open to new experiences; they also tend to become more agreeable and more conscientious. After age 30, these same trends are seen, but the rate of change dips.
In a post on Quiet Revolution, Cain confirms what you've probably suspected all along—we act more “introverted” as we age. Psychologists call this phenomenon “intrinsic maturation,” and it means our personalities become more balanced as we get older—“a kind of fine wine that mellows with age,” writes Cain.
As we age, it's common for our social circles to get a bit smaller, as adult friendships are typically rooted in careers and children's activities. As adult children leave the nest and retirement approaches, it can be difficult to find places to easily make friends.
Causes of Introversion
Researchers have found that introverts have a higher blood flow to their frontal lobe than extroverts do. This part of the brain helps you remember things, solve problems, and plan ahead. Introvert brains also react differently to dopamine than extrovert brains do.
Albert Einstein
Not only is Einstein one of the most famous scientists in history, but he was also a known introvert. Leaning into his introverted nature, Einstein believed that his creativity and success came from keeping to himself. He said, “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”
No, an introvert can not become an extrovert. Introversion and extroversion are how the brain is hardwired to gain energy, deal with outside stimulation, and process information.
You sometimes suffer social anxiety.
If you get a little nervous when you're in the midst of a crowd, you might be an extreme introvert. Palm sweating, irregular heartbeat, panic episodes, abrupt muteness, stammering, shivering, disorientation, nausea, and intestinal difficulties are all signs of social anxiety.
Introversion is about social energy, while social anxiety is a mental illness focused on fear of social interactions. The main differences between introversion and social anxiety are: Introverts recharge and feel energized when they are alone whereas social anxiety is a fear of social interactions.
Introverts might shut down if they are inundated with too much stimulation without a break to recharge. Oftentimes, social situations such as parties are too much for introverts, who need their own space more often than extroverts. As such, introverts tend to shut down when they are overwhelmed. What is this?
Introverts are looked down upon for lack of good 'communication skills'. Right from an early age, introverts have to compete very hard with peers, who seem to have no problem in public or interpersonal speaking. What seems to be effortless for peers is actually the most difficult task for an introverted child.
Extreme introverts are far quieter than typical introverts. People often mistake the trait for shyness. Their quiet demeanor is usually motivated by the need to carefully take in and process what others are saying and doing around them.
Psychologists have observed intrinsic maturation in people around the world, from Germany, the UK, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Turkey. And it's not just humans; they've seen it happen to chimps and monkeys, too. It's why we slow down as we get older and start enjoying a quieter, calmer life.
Elon Musk is a self-proclaimed introvert entrepreneur. There is a common misconception that only extroverts can succeed in business.
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.
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.
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.
Introversion is a well-studied personality trait with 50% genetic causation.
What is introversion? Introversion is a personality trait, not a mental health condition. Introverts get their energy from within, meaning they need a lot of alone time to recharge.
Yes, emotional trauma can cause a person to become a lot more introverted. Along with something as small as a loud noise more traumatic events can clearly change the way that someone acts.
When you feel like you no longer really want to socialize, you could be in the middle of a vital transition. That's because difficult times often cause you to reflect. Consequently, this lack of desire to meet your friends or colleagues could be due to the fact that you're considering making some changes.