Philosophy of Everything

Introversion

What is an "Introvert"?"An introverted person seeks to understand the inner workings of his own mind and heart. He delights in self-discovery." - Robert Bly, Iron John: A Book About Men (1980)I am an introvert by nature. I love solitude. When alone with myself or a friend I tend to be quiet; my eyes often wander about inside my head as if seeking something that has been lost. My friends have called me withdrawn, reserved, shy, and even aloof. In fact, all these terms are correct except one—I'm not antisocial. Rather, I prefer being alone than sharing company.In our culture, we think of extroverts as outgoing people who enjoy socializing and making new acquaintances. But most extroverts are only pretending when they say they like meeting strangers because it makes them feel good. They're afraid of what will happen if they don't go out and mingle with their peers. It's much easier for extroverts to talk to other people rather than converse with themselves. Extroverts can do so without fear of judgment since everyone else seems to want to hear about themselves. An extrovert doesn't need to ask questions of another because he already knows everything there is to know about him. On the contrary, an introvert feels uncomfortable talking to others unless she or he really wants to learn something from someone else. Even then, however, an introvert prefers learning through books or research. If forced to meet a stranger on short notice, he may well find himself saying nothing at all but merely staring at him in silence. This kind of behavior would never occur to an extrovert. For them conversation is a means of establishing friendship. To an introvert, it's more important to get acquainted with oneself before building up a relationship with another person.The distinction between introversion and extroversion goes back thousands of years. The ancient Greeks were quite familiar with this trait. Aristotle wrote extensively about it in his book Nicomachean Ethics. He divided human beings into two categories based upon how they preferred to spend time: those who spent time alone and read or studied, and those who enjoyed spending time around others. Since the ancient world was still obsessed with group dynamics, the latter category became known as extroverts. As you might expect, these days we use a different word to describe people like ourselves—we call them "introverts" instead of "extroverts". We also tend to view them as having positive traits while extroverts are seen as negative. Yet, according to Plato, both types of personality are equally valid. Both are necessary for society to function properly. Without each type, life becomes too chaotic. While extroverts bring energy and enthusiasm to the table, introverts keep things calm and orderly.For example, consider the difference between the following statements:Extrovert: "Let's go dancing tonight!"Introvert: "Why don't we take a walk?"Which statement sounds more likely to make your date agree to come along? Which one does it seem like you'd enjoy hearing more often? You'll probably pick the second option every time. And rightly so! After all, if you went out dancing every night you wouldn't have time to do anything else. That's why extroverts are constantly looking for opportunities to share their experiences with others. Whereas introverts prefer learning by reading and studying, which allows them plenty of time to contemplate whatever thoughts they wish to explore. In contrast, extroverts tend to live fast lives filled with action and excitement whereas introverts prefer slower paced lives where they can observe the universe in tranquility.So what exactly is the difference between introversion and extroversion? According to Carl Jung, introversion is a quality of character that stems from the soul itself. Introverts are characterized by a desire to see what lies within themselves and discover secrets buried deep within their subconscious.Extroverts, on the other hand, prefer living in the moment and basing decisions on what they've learned from experience. Extroverts seek to avoid boredom by finding ways to fill their time with stimulation. Although they enjoy being with others, they prefer working alone. Because they prefer to focus on their own needs, they rarely become close to anyone. Instead, they prefer going out of their way to help others.Of course, this is just one theory. There are many others. Some psychologists believe that extroversion and introversion stem from childhood. Others claim that extroverts have active imaginations while introverts prefer to look inward. Still others maintain that extroversion comes naturally to humans whereas introversion develops later in life. Each school of thought has its advocates. However, one thing remains consistent across all of them. Introverts prefer being alone and extroverts prefer to be around others.As for me, I'm definitely an introvert. At least, that's what everyone thinks. When asked to explain what sets me apart, however, they usually resort to describing my preferences for solitude over company. Perhaps the real reason for this discrepancy is found in the words of Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World: "It's not enough to be interested or even enthusiastic; it's essential to be single-minded. Of course, I'm not suggesting that introverts are incapable of enjoying company. Far from it. But when faced with the choice between spending time with others or reading a book, they always choose the former. Personally, I think this is perfectly natural. After all, if you spend your time with others you risk getting distracted by irrelevant topics. Whereas if you read a good book you can concentrate solely on the story without worrying about anything else. So yes, I enjoy spending time with others. But I prefer reading to doing so.