What Is An Introvert REALLY?

Everyone in life has their struggles. For one reason or another, many people feel misunderstood and undervalued, like they don’t quite fit in society. Of course, in the age of the internet, these misunderstood people can be reached all at once on a global level. They can be shown that they’re not alone. Awareness can be built. People can be uplifted and influenced. One such example is the introverts.

Introverts are the subject of a lot of discussion online. There has been a lot of content written about what it’s like to be an introvert, how to survive as an introvert, how to understand introverts, how to treat introverts in specific situations, etc. Books have been published. Courses have been released, all designed to teach introverts how to excel in a world of extraverts. (Naturally, people have capitalized on the subject; that’s what people do.)

Unfortunately, in the process, things have gone too far in the wrong direction.

Sometimes, when defining a personality quirk or characteristic, people make it too broad. They speak from a place of experience and understanding, but then mistakenly include aspects of their own personality that aren’t actually related. They add extra meaning to something where it doesn’t belong.

By the end of this article, I intend to explain what an introvert is REALLY, but first, I’m going to talk about what an introvert is not. I’m going to share the things that I’ve seen people say about introverts, and the implications they have for those who are not introverts.

What An Introvert (or Introversion) Is NOT

1. An introvert is NOT any better than their counterparts: the extraverts

Introversion has become romanticized to the point that introverts are described like extra special people, a step above everyone else. I see them referred to as being deep, authentic, honest, sensitive, kind, etc. Essentially, a wealth of positive qualities gets attributed to something that is utterly neutral, neither good nor bad. Of course, in attributing certain qualities to introverts, the logic suggests that those who are not introverted do not have these qualities. Ergo, if introverts are naturally kind, deep, soulful people seeking meaning and authenticity, the extraverts are the opposite. That paints quite the picture about extraversion, does it not? It’s one thing to be encouraging, but it’s entirely different to throw the scales out of balance.

Some things are simply human nature. Most people, regardless of personality type, seek meaning in some form or another. In addition, healthy people will not be fake, nor will they truly be satisfied with shallow relationships. Anyone can be deep, and anyone can be shallow. None of this is related to introversion or extraversion, other than perhaps being a false perception one has of the other.

2. Introversion is not a superpower, nor is it a handicap

As mentioned, introversion is a neutral thing. It has its pros and its cons. Being an introvert gives you a propensity towards certain strengths (one’s that are directly related to what an introvert is), but it also gives you a propensity towards certain weaknesses or struggles. It is neither better nor worse than being an extravert. I see some sources describe introversion like it’s a hidden superpower that you need to learn how to tap into, while some people describe it like a weakness. I’m equally wary of both perspectives. You can be an effective introvert, or an ineffective introvert. In other words, you can work to minimize your weaknesses and utilize your strengths, or you can use introversion as an excuse to be a failure. It’s your choice.

3. An introvert is not preprogrammed with a hate for people or a fear of people

Introverts are not introverts because they hate people, or because they have social anxiety. These things are not connected. Extraverts can hate people too, and they can also have social anxiety. Of course, when that is the case, they’re often mistyped as introverts. However, neither of those things are what defines an introvert.

Related Article: 7 Reasons ENTJs and ESTJs Mistype as Introverts

What An Introvert REALLY Is

If you look up the definition of introvert, most will say something fairly similar. Of course, there is some variance depending on the context in which the word is used. Meaning, within the context of a personality theory like Myers-Briggs or the Jungian cognitive functions, the word “introvert” can take on a more specific meaning, although it’s similar to most official, common definitions.

Here, at Practical Typing, we have covered the meaning of introversion and extraversion (according to cognitive function theory) in depth, so I will make this explanation fairly concise and link to the in-depth article below. Simply put, introversion has to do with prioritizing one’s inner world over the outer world.

Carl Jung describes it by saying, “the introvert is distinguished from the extravert by the fact that he does not, like the latter, orient himself by the object and by objective data, but rather subjective factors…the introvert interposes a subjective view between the perception of the object and his own action, which prevents the action from assuming a character that fits the objective situation…”

Someone’s energy for social interaction is not actually what is being defined by introversion and extraversion, although it can play a part. Interacting with or focusing on the external world calls upon the extraverted cognitive functions in an individual’s Myers-Briggs personality type. For someone who has a dominant introverted function, this will be draining (especially if their extraverted function is underdeveloped), but what’s draining about it won’t be limited to social interaction. In fact, technically, if an introvert has adequately developed their social skills, they may not even find socialization that draining.

Read More: Introversion vs Extraversion

In Conclusion…

Character qualities such as honesty, depth, authenticity, etc. do not define what an introvert is. There’s no way to extrapolate off of any legitimate definition of introversion to make this connection. Those who have tried to are making a lot of assumptions, taking a lot of leaps, and/or failing to see the matter objectively. Introverts can be kind, giving, and loyal, but they can also be manipulative, cruel, and dishonest. What introversion means to you is not necessarily what introversion means objectively. Avoid attributing false meaning to this word, because it not only creates misconceptions but unfairly frames the extraverts.