Introverts aren't rude or shy: some tips to understand them better

Extroverts have all the fun! Or so it might seem unless you take some time to see that introverts are actually just as likely to be enjoying themselves and happy in life.

Extroverts might be out there 24/7 - the life and soul of the party - talking to anyone about anything for hours on end; whilst the poor old introverts amongst us are said to shy away from the limelight or hold back from starting the conversation flow.

Extroverts are thought to be in the majority with some 75% or so of the population, leaving around a quarter lying more on the introverted side of the spectrum. (Being a spectrum though, some people (most?) will lie somewhere in-between as ambiverts!)

By definition, extroverts are supposed to be outgoing and more concerned with the physical and social envirnoment, whilst introverts are said to focus more inwardly - definitions that I think don't do any of the groups any favours. But actually, when you start to think more carefully about it introverts aren't being shy or rude by being who they are and are probably having as much fun and being just as successful in life as those cool cats - the extroverts.

There's even some science to suggest that introverts are over-sensitive to that 'feel-good neurotransmitter' dopamine and all the thrills and fuss of social adventure pleases them so quickly they start to tire much more quickly than their extrovert counterparts who can't get enough and have a need for adrenelin-rushes to help produce more dopamine to satisfy the brain.

I took the 'Are you an introvert or an extrovert (and why it matters)' quiz by Susan Cain over at Psychology Today. Of the 20 statements, I answered 2 as 'false' and 18 as 'true' or 'mostly true' confirming I'm an 'introvert'. I am quite excited as it feels like a positive confirmation and reinforces my belief in myself and how I go about my life (though interesting that I would like more fame, fortune and status - and quite happy doing some multi-tasking!).

Some reading on the subject of introversion:

• I really liked the overturning of common misconceptions about introverts here: 10 Myths About Introverts - Carlkingdom.com
• 'Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking' by Susan Cain
  
• 'The introvert advantage (How to thrive in an extrovert world)' by Marti Olsen Lany
  

I guess the take-away message is that everyone has different needs when it comes to interaction with their environment and it's to the benefit of the human race that there's a healthy mixture of introversion and extroversion. Introverts can be and most often are happy, successful people.