Introverts – Decoding Their Unique Mind

Introverts1 are generally misunderstood as bad at relationships, depressed 2and inferior. Still, they are the most creative, loyal, highly successful, and independent-minded people3 you will ever encounter.

They prefer to be alone, as it energizes them psychologically. They feel comfortable staying aloof; silence works as an asset in providing them with the time and the space they require to think.

 Introverts - You are perfect just the way you are
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1. Are Introverts Really Different?

Introverts are entirely normal (Yes, it is essential to say that their silence is often mistaken as a rude attitude) but are less socially developed due to a neurotransmitter Dopamine4 that makes them highly sensitive to noisy and crowded places. Let me put it this way! Introverts would not feel thrilled and excited to attend a loud, crowded musical concert. Instead, they would love to be alone in a forest. They yearn for serenity and silence.

Another misunderstanding regarding introverts is that they do not like to speak up. It’s just that they don’t talk unless there is a reason to. But on the contrary, given a topic they are excited about, they would not shut up for days altogether. They love to read and listen and then respond after making profound observations. Introverts are neither shy nor afraid of anybody; they do need a definite, sensible reason to interact with others and won’t do it for talking.

Though introverts are very successful, highly creative5, and intelligent, they would never boast about their qualities. They dwell on virtues, namely, honesty and truth. They truly value their very few friends and are deeply attached to close ones. They crave a loyal and secretive connection. Once you earn their respect, they will look up to you. You can consider yourselves truly lucky if your BFF (best friend forever) is an introvert, as it probably is the guarantee of loyalty for a lifetime.

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2. Common Myths Around Them

Introverts are misjudged to be complicated and arrogant by nature, but the fact is that they try to avoid misunderstandings generated when present at social gatherings. They love to read intriguing stories and solve mysteries in solace. They happen to observe and absorb the experiences and leave quickly. Never expect an introvert to hang on for no genuine reason till the end of a public gathering.

Interestingly, Introverts are extremely individualistic by nature. They are the ones who could be handpicked for their different way of thinking, choosing untraced paths, their ideologies, and their way of learning from their own experiences rather than flowing with the stream.

Introverts are not the least bothered about the world around them as most people think, but they find their own company and thoughts more engaging and stimulating than the world around them. They never tend to pretend or fake their emotions to impress someone. They are truly capable of showing genuine emotions towards others and being happy; if the one who loves you is an Introvert, be assured that their love is true.

Now, let’s see how we can manage to bring them out from their shell, help them open up, and express their views. Introverts are great listeners. Make an introvert put his ideas on paper, and you would be surprised to know what all they had absorbed in their minds. According to research specifically made on them, the IQ of introverts is relatively high compared to others.

Firstly, we must develop a positive impression among them. This would help generate a liking and trust in their hearts. Then we need to genuinely understand their feelings, love them, and follow their lead.

We also need to make them realize our thoughts. We must always allow them to speak first. Give them challenging tasks and responsibilities. They would surprise you with their ability to flourish under pressure with the help of their way of decision-making6 and execution of any given task.

They work cooperatively in contrast to others who would work competitively when in a group. We should never push them out of their zone as that would make them confused and overwhelmed, and ultimately, they would retreat.

We should never try to force an introvert to become an extrovert. Instead, we must build self-esteem7 within them by loving them the way they are. We must listen to them carefully while they speak instead of interrupting. We must possess patience as they proceed slowly.

Being an Introvert myself, I found myself going through many of the aforementioned instances. But I feel delighted to acknowledge that my BFF is an Introvert too.

Please go ahead and try to make a difference in their lives!

  1. Freyd, Max. “Introverts and Extroverts.” Psychological review 31.1 (1924): 74. ↩︎
  2. depressed ↩︎
  3. independent-minded people ↩︎
  4. Berke, Joshua D. “What does dopamine mean?.” Nature neuroscience 21.6 (2018): 787-793. ↩︎
  5. Cowdroy, Rob, and Erik de Graaff. “Assessing highly‐creative ability.” Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education 30.5 (2005): 507-518. ↩︎
  6. Edwards, Ward. “The theory of decision making.” Psychological bulletin 51.4 (1954): 380. ↩︎
  7. Orth, Ulrich, and Richard W. Robins. “The development of self-esteem.” Current directions in psychological science 23.5 (2014): 381-387. ↩︎
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