• Creatures or humans?

By Rukayya Zamroon Introverts, a complex assembly of people who belong to the personality type known as introversion, are people who focus more on internal thoughts and feelings rather than seeking out external stimulation. They enjoy the company of only a small circle of people rather than a large one. Many confuse introversion and shyness. They think introverts are shy, but there is a big difference between the two. Introversion is a personality type, while shyness is an emotion. Introverts enjoy their time alone and recharge when they are not around other people; they have a limit until their social batteries drain from being around others for too long. A shy person doesn’t necessarily enjoy being alone but is afraid of interacting with others. It is possible for some introverts to be shy, but it is important not to blur the line between the two. Introverts make up an estimated 25% to 40% of the population. Becoming an introvert is a combination of both nature and nurture. Nature is where the behaviours and beliefs of a person are inherited genetically through inheritance and other biological factors. Nurture is the influence of a person’s environment on their behaviours and beliefs as they grow after conception. The way one’s physiology responds to the outside environment plays an important role in determining their level of introversion. A network of neurons in the brainstem known as the reticular activating system (RAS) is responsible for regulating arousal levels including wakefulness. When you are confronted by potential threats in your environment, the RAS increases your arousal levels so that you are more alert and ready to face your danger. According to Hans Eysenck’s theory, introverts have naturally high levels of arousal. Because of this, they tend to seek environments where they can escape from overstimulation. This is why they prefer to be alone; they get to reflect on their thoughts and feelings and everything they’ve learned throughout the day to understand themselves and their experiences better. Without being able to do so, they will feel overwhelmed and drained, and this can lead to their distress and discomfort. Not all introverts are the same. In fact, many people assume all introverts are these quiet, timid creatures that are basically allergic to any place other than their homes. This is untrue; introverts come in many types and have a variety of different characteristics, but they do have a blend of qualities from among those types: 

1. Being around lots of people drains their energy
2. They have a small group of close friends
3. People have a hard time getting to know them well
4. They are drawn to jobs and tasks that involve independence 
5. They like to learn by watching rather than doing
6. Too much stimulation leaves them drained and distracted
7. They are very self-aware
8. They enjoy solitude

Even introverts have differences among themselves. There are four types of introverts. You can get a better understanding of what separates these types below:  

• The social introvert

  Social introverts are often misunderstood because they do not fit into the usual introversion stereotype. Social introverts tend to enjoy intimate gatherings and one-on-one coffee catch-ups over raging parties. Social introverts prefer smaller group settings and alone time. They enjoy interacting with small groups of people, but like any other introvert, they are easily drained if they are exposed to others too much. If in a gathering, a social introvert is often the person in the background, only surrounded by a couple of friends, and everyone knows they will leave early.   

• The introspective introvert

  Also known as thinking introverts, introspective introverts are the quiet-genius types. They love creating, ideating, and storytelling. They can come across as aloof or spacey to others, but they often have incredible insights that tend to have people clinging to their every word. They have a rich and complex inner world and are often self-reflective.   

• The anxious introvert

  Anxious introverts tend to feel genuinely unsettled in social gatherings and even when they are alone. They may appear on edge and are nervous around others and often hide away from settings that may stimulate their anxiety. They often refuse to step out of their comfort zones and may come off as detached and avoid social interactions as much as they can. These habits may come off as rude to others, but there is nothing wrong with this type of introvert. They are not rude on purpose, and nor are they too stubborn; they just have their limits and tend to get extremely unsettled if they are forced to exceed them. When they are with people they trust, however, they are just fine.   

• The restrained introvert

  Restrained introverts are really reserved and tend to keep their guards up around people they don’t know. Until they lower their protective shell, they can be a truly grounding force among others. They are very controlled and quiet, and can often be seen as unemotional. They enjoy predictable activities, and once you get to know them, they are happy to play open hands. They are more expressive once they know they are truly comfortable with someone.  —----- Concluding paragraph Introverts are a very important group of people. You may not see a lot of them, but when they choose to approach you, consider yourself very lucky. Value every single one of them. Simply respecting their need for space and the fact that they want to leave early can really show them you care.    PHOTOS © ISTOCK