Miriam El Abbassi | Arts Editor
Featured image courtesy of Jasmine Wiradharma
We all fall somewhere on the scale between introvert and extrovert, whether we lean more towards one side or the other, or are dead set in the middle. While this diversity in personality traits is present in all cultures, society tends to both praise and prioritize extroverts.
Being outgoing, sociable, and energetic are all key markers that are heavily rewarded in today’s society. The louder you are, and the more confident you appear, the more attention you’ll receive, and that goes for most social settings.
The actual definitions of extroversion and introversion, however, have very little (if anything) to do with stereotypical personality traits. Popularized by Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung, both introversion and extroversion have everything to do with where one gets their energy from.
If someone were to identify as an extrovert, they may tend to feel empowered and energized in social situations. Someone who identifies with being introverted may have to use up a lot of energy in those situations, and therefore, would need to recharge by spending time alone.
Being an introvert also comes with a whole host of misconceptions. Society seems to hold the collective idea that introverts are antisocial, hermit-like recluses who never leave the four walls of their bedroom (or that they hate people). All of those assumptions have the subtle connotation that there is something inherently wrong with being an introvert. That is because introverts tend to prefer solitude over the constant bombardment of human interaction, which in itself is a fundamental flaw.
This perception is partly due to the reality that society heavily favours individuals who possess extrovert qualities. The likelihood of success in various aspects of your life (jobs, relationships etc.) mostly depend on how well you can communicate your thoughts to others. Being more outgoing and charismatic are qualities that are also favoured, inadvertently alienating a large group of people who do not naturally express themselves that way.
As an introvert, learning to set your own boundaries may prove to be most effective in order to properly navigate the extroverted world. Accept yourself as you are, and you may find carving out your own niche in society not as difficult as you may have originally thought.
