Introversion: Theories, Causes, and Resources

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What is Introversion?

Introversion is a personality type of certain individuals who share common characteristics. Characteristics include self-reliance, thoughtfulness, and being reserved and quiet. Unlike extroverts, the other personality type in the spectrum, who are social by nature, directly and immediately respond to stimuli that are external, and enjoy human interaction, introverts prefer leisure activities that they can do on their own, such as writing, reading, drawing, and other solitary work. Whereas extroverts tend to act first and think later, introverts think first, mull over options, and then make an accurate decision based on the available options and possible outcomes. Introverts should not be confused with individuals who are shy. Shy individuals stay away from social situations out of apprehension; introverts have a preference for solitary activities rather than group activities. Introverted individuals maintain a strong sense of self that creates a feeling of self-consciousness that expands when put into social situations. They are internally emotional and do not reveal as much about themselves as extroverts do. Other characteristics of introverts include a lack of deep attachments, cautiousness when meeting new individuals, an importance in self-reflection, having a few interests that are deeply explored, and a territorial nature due to their need of private time and space.

Jung’s Theory of Introversion

There are numerous theories about the causes behind introversion. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist that coined the terms “introversion” and “extroversion” believed that psychic energy was the cause behind these personality types. Jung believed that whereas extroverts have psychic energy that flows out, an introverted individual’s psychic energy flows inward, making them “inward turning.” Due to the inward flowing of energy, introverted individuals have more energy when they are doing solitary activities than when they are doing social activities, where the energy decreases. However, this cause of introversion seems to be obsolete in today’s science field because modern psychologists believe it is hard to tap mental energy in a way that it can be accurately tested. As well, there are more modern explanations for brain activity that can cause introversion. However, despite this, Jung is still accredited with coming up with these dimensions of personality types.

Hans Eysenck’s Theory of Introversion

Hans Eysenck, a British psychologist, studied introversion and believed it to be caused by brain physiology. According to Eysenck, introverted individuals work to keep their arousal level to a minimum degree due to their desire to avoid social situations. This was in direct contrast to extroverted individuals who want to elevate their level of arousal by actively looking for social activity and excitement.

Possible Biological Causes for Introversion

As for biological causes, many psychologists and psychiatrists like to point at the “nature versus nurture” environmental theory. This theory was coined by Francis Galton, an English Victorian polymath, who believed that social careers of individuals are influenced by environment and heredity. “Nature versus nurture” theory is an ongoing debate about the comparative importance of innate qualities of an individual, nature, versus personal experiences, nurture, and how that determines differences in an individual’s behavioral and physical traits. However, there is no conclusive evidence that suggests if it is nature or nurture that plays a larger role in the cause of introversion, though some individuals speculate that nurture has something to do with how they were treated as a newborn.

Another biological cause that clinical studies have proven is that individuals who display signs of introversion, tend to have a greater flow of blood to the frontal lobe area of the brain and the anterior or frontal thalamus. These are areas in the brain that are known for their work with internal processing, including problem solving and planning. Extroverts, however, have an increased amount of blood flow to the posterior thalamus, temporal lobes, and anterior cingulated gyrus parts of the brain. These parts of the brain work with emotional and sensory experiences.

Resources about Introversion

Personality Traits
Natalya Krimgold article on “Extroversion, Introversion, and the Brain”
Jill D. Burruss and Lisa Kaenzig from the College of William and Mary: Introversion: The Often Forgotten Factor Impacting the Gifted
The Introvert Advantage by Orli Van Mourik

Resource by T.Price

I am a mom of 2 boys who loves to spend time with them doing fun things outdoors. In my spare time I have my own things I enjoy doing such as gardening, reading old books, and being a closet history buff.

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