7 Misconceptions About Introverts

Introverts get a bad rep. Shy. Socially awkward. Weird. "That odd one in the corner".

1. Introverts are boring

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Not all. Granted, some. But some extroverts are boring. Actually- some human beings are boring. Extroverts process their thoughts and decisions by speaking. Introverts do it in their heads. Some introverts have a really complex inner world and can find themselves getting lost in it for... a while.

2. Introverts hate socialising

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Actually, we (sometimes) like parties. Introverts prefer to go to gatherings that we know bring us joy, which tend to be smaller and more intimate. Bonus if there are pets we can make friends with.

3. Introverts are shy

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Correction: not all introverts are shy. Shyness and introversion are two separate traits. Shyness is the fear of social disapproval, rejection, and humiliation, introversion is how you gain and lose energy. You can be a shy or confident introvert. You can also be a shy extrovert.

4. Introverts don't need people

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We're humans. Humans thrive off connection. Being an introvert is not synonymous with being anti-social. Instead, lot of people for a long period of time drain our energy. Knowing how to reenergise is key to avoiding the "introvert hangover" (yes, it exists).

5. Introvert's secret desire is to become extroverted

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Introversion is not something that needs to be "fixed". In fact, introversion-extroversion is a scale upon which most people fall, sometimes more towards one end than the other. You can be 65% introverted or only 33%. We move up and down the scale depending on the situation.

6. Introverts are not team players

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Introverts are some of the most loyal people you'll come across. Our desire to connect with people on a deeper level means we are excellent team players. We also need some time alone to think through problems. That chatty colleague who doesn't stop talking? They are our worst nightmare.

7. Introverts don’t have many emotions

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Definitely not true. Some introverts don't necessarily show all of their emotions in the typical sense, but may instead show they care in other ways (like a complimentary email after you've killed a meeting). Introverts have a lower threshold for emotional reactivity, so it's actually easier to elicit an emotional reaction from them.