The Student Room Group

Introversion is bad.

This gets bandied around on TSR all the time and is simply wrong.
Obviously, introverts often find themselves being criticised particularly in relation to their relationship skills, and in a sort of overdefensive backlash against being treated like weird or abnormal they claim that intorversion makes them more thoughtful or intelligent than extroverts.

It's normal to be resentful when you're misunderstood, and it's normal to feel like the universe should make it up to you by giving you some kind of positive trait to make up for it. I'm not sure if I should blame comic books for the common narrative of "everyone always treated me like I was weird and different but it turns out this weirdness is actually because I have special powers that make me better than them," but it seems like everyone wants to play that card these days.

Introverts are not necessarily more intelligent, either. There are tonnes of of quiet, introverted people that are as dumb as bricks. It's a lot easier to look intelligent when you don't talk as much, ("better to remain quiet and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt"), and because anything stupid you think is less likely to come out of your mouth.
There's nothing about being an extroverted, socially confident person that prevents you being highly intelligent and thoughtful too. Everyone spends a large portion of their time doing nothing, or timewasting (watching trash TV, playing computer games etc) - noone is really so pushed for free time that they have to make a tradeoff "socialising with my friends or thinking about philosophy... which to pick??".

Its established fact that Extroverts do better in their careers, have more friends and are more likely to be in relationships with a romantic partner. Some of the few areas studies have shown introverts to be more successful tend to be those where extroverts generally find the environment boring, so don't take part (e.g. academia). There have been multiple studies that show Extroverts to be happier and have higher self-esteem than introverts.

Introversion isn't something that should be celebrated. Its a failing, like being socially awkward, or poor at sports. If you are an introvert, see a therapist or counsellor and try to beat it. Being an extrovert is better in every way.

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I don't really know any proper introverts in real life - I sort of assumed that it was something people grew out of as they went to uni, made friends, became less shy etc. Unless they have autism or aspergers or something.
Original post by AnonymousProfile
This gets bandied around on TSR all the time and is simply wrong.
Obviously, introverts often find themselves being criticised particularly in relation to their relationship skills, and in a sort of overdefensive backlash against being treated like weird or abnormal they claim that intorversion makes them more thoughtful or intelligent than extroverts.

It's normal to be resentful when you're misunderstood, and it's normal to feel like the universe should make it up to you by giving you some kind of positive trait to make up for it. I'm not sure if I should blame comic books for the common narrative of "everyone always treated me like I was weird and different but it turns out this weirdness is actually because I have special powers that make me better than them," but it seems like everyone wants to play that card these days.

Introverts are not necessarily more intelligent, either. There are tonnes of of quiet, introverted people that are as dumb as bricks. It's a lot easier to look intelligent when you don't talk as much, ("better to remain quiet and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt"), and because anything stupid you think is less likely to come out of your mouth.
There's nothing about being an extroverted, socially confident person that prevents you being highly intelligent and thoughtful too. Everyone spends a large portion of their time doing nothing, or timewasting (watching trash TV, playing computer games etc) - noone is really so pushed for free time that they have to make a tradeoff "socialising with my friends or thinking about philosophy... which to pick??".

Its established fact that Extroverts do better in their careers, have more friends and are more likely to be in relationships with a romantic partner. Some of the few areas studies have shown introverts to be more successful tend to be those where extroverts generally find the environment boring, so don't take part (e.g. academia). There have been multiple studies that show Extroverts to be happier and have higher self-esteem than introverts.

Introversion isn't something that should be celebrated. Its a failing, like being socially awkward, or poor at sports. If you are an introvert, see a therapist or counsellor and try to beat it. Being an extrovert is better in every way.


Extroverts gain energy by being around others whereas introverts gain energy by being on their own or in low stimuli environments.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Extroverts need to be around people and can come across as clingy/needy in your face.
Original post by civilstudent
Extroverts gain energy by being around others whereas introverts gain energy by being on their own or in low stimuli environments.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Extroverts need to be around people and can come across as clingy/needy in your face.


Most people I know who most people would call "extroverted" are perfectly happy on their own, they just don't "need" to be alone.

I've never really met anyone who NEEDS to be around others all the time.
Reply 4
There is nothing wrong with being introverted. Not all introverted people are the socially awkward people that you are trying to suggest. Many of them have absolutely no problem in a social setting, it's just they prefer not to be the centre of attention and blast out opinions left right and centre. I have worked with both extroverts and introverts, and I can tell you that it is the introvert who'll get the job done, the extrovert will often just try use the gift of the gab to worm his way out of things and when that fails try blame it on the introvert.

They are just suited to different roles and both personality types are required in a society, one with too many of either is just bound to fail. An extrovert will succeed where the job requires talking and charisma i.e. salesman, politician, holiday rep and PR whereas the introvert will succeed at jobs where it requires focusing and repetition such as office work, engineering, academia and accountancy. Another thing I would like to add is that leadership is not dependent on either of these types and one can have great leaders who are either introverts or extroverts.
Reply 5
Being introverted has nothing to do with bad social skills this is a huge myth. Being introverted simply means that you like to keep to yourself in order to 'recharge your batteries' ready for the next social situation. Nothing wrong with this. It is actually better than being an extrovert in some ways because it means that you don't need to be clinging on to people all the time which can be quite annoying. The OP's rant is just part of a general ongoing stigma against quiet people. In society it's perfectly acceptable to tell someone that they are not talking enough but hugely rude to tell someone that they are talking too much which is ridiculous seeing as the latter is clearly far more irritating.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by HistoryRepeating
Most people I know who most people would call "extroverted" are perfectly happy on their own, they just don't "need" to be alone.

I've never really met anyone who NEEDS to be around others all the time.


Ive had loads of outgoing girls tell me they cant function and get so depressed without friends.
Reply 7
That's a very long post for someone who doesn't even know what the subject he's talking about even is.

Introversion is not a "failing", nor is it something that you can "beat", unless perhaps you get a brain transplant. Introverts' brains have different dominant neural pathways to others, which is what defines someone as an introvert.

Original post by AnonymousProfile
Introverts are not necessarily more intelligent, either.

Obviously not every introvert you meet is going to be more intelligent than you*, but the average introvert is more intelligent than the average extrovert. Introverts make up 60% of the gifted population, and 25% of the total population.

Original post by AnonymousProfile
There's nothing about being an extroverted, socially confident person that prevents you being highly intelligent and thoughtful too.

Of course not. It's just that introverts are more thoughtful.

Original post by AnonymousProfile
Its established fact that Extroverts do better in their careers and are more likely to be in relationships with a romantic partner.

Could you provide some evidence for this claim? I'd be interested to see it.

Original post by AnonymousProfile
Its established fact that Extroverts have more friends

Why should anyone care about how many friends they have?

You seem to think that introversion is a synonym for shyness. It's not.
I don't usually end up with the ad hominem, but I really do feel quite disgusted by this post (and insulted, which is extremely rare for me). If you wouldn't make a post about "Blacks are failures of human beings", then don't write this post.

*though by the sounds of it, there aren't many people who would fail to accomplish this
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by S.R
In society it's perfectly acceptable to tell someone that they are not talking enough but hugely rude to tell someone that they are talking too much which is ridiculous seeing as the latter is clearly far more irritating.


Telling someone they talk too much devalues what they are saying.

Saying someone doesn't talk enough implies what they say has value.
Original post by civilstudent
Ive had loads of outgoing girls tell me they cant function and get so depressed without friends.


Friends provide support - a kind of support everyone, even introverts need but may get from their family.

I can't imagine there are many HAPPY introverts who dont have at least one person they can discuss their problems with, even if its just their mum.
For all the introverts out there who might have just had their feelings hurt by this ridiculously stupid baseless post, please don't listen to this guy. There's nothing wrong with being an introvert. Please don't feel bad or try and change yourself in any way for some ignorant moron on TSR.
Original post by AnonymousProfile


Its established fact that Extroverts do better....


No, it's a culturally biased fact.

Go to Japan or Korea and you'll find that introversion is the norm. They highly respect thoughtfulness and diligence, and nobody is a loser just for being quiet or reserved. They're just respected as themselves by everybody they interact with. Western countries are way more hung up on shallow flamboyant antics that are only good for the sake of short term social gratification.

I find typically 'extroverted' antics to be largely pointless and am quite happy to keep away from all that nonsense. "Ooooh look at meeee being so fuuun do you all like me yet?"

Posted from TSR Mobile
Reply 12
Careful... You're on a forum where supposedly 1 in 4 people are introverts.
Original post by Michaelj
Careful... You're on a forum where supposedly 1 in 4 people are introverts.


The internet is more a domain for introverts because its easier foe them to communicate more.concisely in text. I'd say the forum is probably more than 50% introvert. Possibly up to 70%. Possibly.

Posted from TSR Mobile
Reply 14
Original post by stuart_aitken
The internet is more a domain for introverts because its easier foe them to communicate more.concisely in text. I'd say the forum is probably more than 50% introvert. Possibly up to 70%. Possibly.

Posted from TSR Mobile


I was ironically quoting what somebody from this thread said... That a quarter of the UKs population was introverted. I said maybe on TSR...
Reply 15
[QUOTE="HistoryRepeating;41020671"]Telling someone they talk too much devalues what they are saying./QUOTE]
Perhaps they have already devalued what they are saying by talking too much and you are just pointing this out?
Original post by HistoryRepeating
Saying someone doesn't talk enough implies what they say has value.


No it implies that you think their quietness is causing a problem which is pretty rude imo
The entire post was based on a misunderstanding of what introversion means.

I think a lot of people call themselves introverts when in fact they are just socially inept. If you find yourself wishing you had more friends/were in more social situations but can't manage to then you aren't an introvert, you're lacking in social skills - sorry to tell you.

Although for those who actually are introverts then it has absolutely nothing to do with being shy, they just need time alone to "recharge their batteries" before their next social situation. Totally normal.

Although I'm an extrovert whilst also being intelligent so no need to worry, the western world has been designed for people like me. Har har.

Would anyone like to debate this instead of getting annoyed at the similarities in themselves and negging?
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 17
Well, I've got a lot of friends, but I'm introverted, e.g. one day I was in the library, had someone talk to me too much and I had a burnout and pretty much got ill. But I'll go on nights out, got quite a few friends, but tbh I find some events pretty generic and boring.

I can go to the pub and talk to my friends about something, but when it gets boring I'll leave, I won't stay there because of the presence of being in other people.
Reply 18
Original post by jam277
Well, I've got a lot of friends, but I'm introverted, e.g. one day I was in the library, had someone talk to me too much and I had a burnout and pretty much got ill. But I'll go on nights out, got quite a few friends, but tbh I find some events pretty generic and boring.

I can go to the pub and talk to my friends about something, but when it gets boring I'll leave, I won't stay there because of the presence of being in other people.


wait,what :confused:. I'm intrigued.
Reply 19
Nobody else finding it amusing that everybody in this thread is criticising the OP stereotyping introverts... By stereotyping extroverts? Hypocrisy at its finest.

Original post by Swanbow
it's just they prefer not to be the centre of attention and blast out opinions left right and centre.

The extrovert will often just try use the gift of the gab to worm his way out of things and when that fails try blame it on the introvert.


You appear to be confusing 'extrovert' with 'douchebag'. Not all extroverts feel the need to constantly draw attention to themselves, and believe it or not some do actually have skills beyond being sociable.


An extrovert will succeed where the job requires talking and charisma i.e. salesman, politician, holiday rep and PR whereas the introvert will succeed at jobs where it requires focusing and repetition such as office work, engineering, academia and accountancy.


Again, extroverts have other skills. Being extroverted doesn't mean you can only do tasks that make use of your extroversion, just as being tall doesn't mean you can only do tasks that make use of your height.

Original post by S.R
It is actually better than being an extrovert in some ways because it means that you don't need to be clinging on to people all the time which can be quite annoying.


News flash, extroverts don't "need to be clinging onto people all the time" either. Enjoying social interaction =/= clinginess.

Original post by stuart_aitken
"Ooooh look at meeee being so fuuun do you all like me yet?"


I don't think it's even necessary to explain how and why this is wrong.

For the record, I'm not sure whether I'm introverted or extroverted, and frankly I couldn't really give a toss.

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