Introverts and extroverts have different strengths and weaknesses, and although most people think that extroverts are the perfect type of people for developing relationships and are excellent role models, this is not always the case. Sumathi Reddy, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, claims that “introverts, who are more withdrawn in nature, will feel a greater sense of happiness if they act extroverted.” Some people think it might be because “being talkative and engaging influences how people respond to you, especially if that response is positive” (Reddy). Others may think that being talkative makes people feel like they belong. It’s true that extroverts are more outgoing than introverts. They can be “warm, funny, energetic, the life and soul of any party… they can be charming and good company” (Hilling). Extroverts meet people and talk to crowds and groups easily. Their idea of a good time is inviting at least five or six friends or family and they have a wide circle of friends. Introverts usually “don’t like attention from a crowd unless they are very familiar with everyone” and “it can be a real drain to have to pay attention to other people for any length of time” (Hilling). According to Sumathi Reddy, “Dr. Fleeson, of Wake Forest University, reported in a 2012 article in the Journal of Personality the results of an experiment that found introverts experience greater levels of happiness when they act more extroverted.” This could possibly be because being around other people normally makes you happy. But “it is perfectly possible for an introvert to feel more alone in a crowded room than on their own” (Hilling) What determines whether we are introverted or extroverted is “the way we respond to the neurotransmitter dopamine” (Cain). Therefore, acting like an extrovert would definitely tire an introvert out because it would be going against their genetics. Having said that, introverts would probably benefit from sharing their feelings and express their opinions.
On the other hand, extroverts might also want to think about the benefits of introverted behaviour. Despite being outgoing and social, extroverts can be “demanding, liking center stage, and prepared to do almost anything to keep the spotlight on them” (Hilling). Introverts are mainly the ones listening quietly, so they would most likely be better friends for sharing your feelings with. In this way, although extroverts can make many social connections and there may be many advantages to that, introverts will create stronger, more trusting bonds that will last for a longer time’ this also has many advantages. Extroverts are also “happy to share their thoughts, even if they have not been thought through fully” (Hilling). Extroverts normally say what pops into their mind without thinking about it. Introverts might overthink things and not say or do them and regret it later. However, saying whatever you think may cause damage to relationships, especially if it’s something that could potentially hurt someone else.
On another note, “extroverts need stimulation or they become very bored. Repetitive tasks will be a turn off unless they are fun or have some kind of payoff – like attention. Their concentration span, particularly in solitary pursuits, tends to be shorter than introverts” (Hilling). Extroverts lack a vital part of learning a skill: patience. They always want to be with others and attract attention. Susan Cain said that according to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a psychologist who studied the lives of numerous exceptionally creative people, extroverts don’t usually “cultivate their talents because practicing music or studying math requires a solitude they dread” (Cain, 83). In this way, extroverts may benefit from being more like extroverts.
Many have heard of the saying “collaboration kills creativity.” Many may not agree with it. However, there is some evidence that this saying might hold some truth. Firstly, it’s important to realise that group work can be essential in some situations. Missy Kurzweil on “Identities.Mic” says that “collaboration is an essential part of problem-solving.” For most types of issues, an individual would benefit from having a variety of people to brainstorm solutions. Groups can help with the development of ideas and usually helps if something is too much work for one person. On the other hand, research has shown that in the first creative stages, groups can hinder an individual’s creativity. According to Missy, “once [an] idea is conceived, it’s passed around like a hot potato, subject to everyone’s red pens. And that can be worse.” Sometimes, when there are many people working on an idea, the idea could be changed to a point that is beyond recognition. This is not always a bad thing, but some original ideas are better than the ones that were subject to input by others. Likewise, according to Susan Cain, in Stephen Wozniak’s, co-founder of the Apple computer, memoir, he said that most inventors and engineers are like artists, “and artists work best alone where they can control an invention’s design without a lot of other people designing it or marketing or some other committee” (Cain, 73). Stephen Wozniak was one of many inventors who were successful, mostly because he worked on his own. Having said that, sometimes people want help or advice or feedback on their work. These types of people are most likely extroverts. But studies show that being alone provides the best creative space.
Susan Cain is the writer of Quiet, an inspiring book for introverts and an eye-opening book for extroverts that received the Goodreads Choice Award for best nonfiction. She studied at Princeton University and Harvard Law School as well. She puts forth another insight into creativity in Quiet. She says that “if you’re in the backyard sitting under a tree while everyone else is clinking glasses on the patio, you’re more likely to have an apple fall on your head” (75). While this might seem like an absurd thing to say, what she means is that if you’re alone, you would be more aware of your surroundings and more likely to notice and question things than if you were focused on talking to people and socialising. Isaac Newton is recognised as one of the most influential scientists of all time, and he was an introvert too.
Groups are also a place where everyone is exposed to peer pressure. Group members are subject to something called “evaluation apprehension, meaning the fear of looking stupid in front of one’s peers” (Cain, 89). People are more afraid to voice and offer their ideas for fear that their groupmates wouldn’t approve or would make fun of them. Another example is that occasionally, intelligent people mask their intellect so that they can blend in with their friends.
Offices have been creating places where all the workers can see each other, however, “open-plan offices have been found to reduce productivity and impair memory… Open-plan workers...argue more with their colleagues; they worry about coworkers eavesdropping on their phone calls and spying on their computer screens” (Cain, 84). Open-plan workers are also subject to loud noises that come with having many people in one room. Although some managers may believe that when people are given their own personal workplace, they tend to get distracted more easily and do things that they are not supposed to be doing because nobody can see their computer screen, the noise of people talking may reduce their productivity more. Also, privacy is very important in work that requires personal connection, like writing. In schools, especially international schools, tables are set up in ways that people can interact with each other in ‘learning groups’. The students can normally see each other’s computer screens or notebooks if they’re sitting together or if someone’s back is towards them. This may not be a problem in subjects like math or science where the learning is very factual. In math, students sitting in groups encourages them to ask each other if they need help with solving a problem. But for subjects like English, Art and occasionally Humanities, generally subjects and topics that are based on creativity and personal involvement, others potentially seeing their work makes people insecure and not want to express themselves. In addition, teachers normally organise seating arrangements so that people don’t sit next to their friends. However, friends are usually the people an individual trusts the most. So with a person who they don’t know very well sitting next to them, they would feel more self-conscious. This works the same way with partnerships. Furthermore, teachers like walking around the classroom, checking up on students and looking over their shoulder at what they’re working on. Although some students may need someone reminding them to stay on task, teachers should know their students well enough to know who needs disciplining and who needs privacy so that they can release their potential.
As a student in an international school, when asked to offer ideas, I don’t normally offer mine because I am afraid of being wrong or being humiliated for my thoughts and ideas. For English, I prefer to work in the privacy of my room. I’ve been in quite a few situations where I’ve written something meaningful and my friend sitting beside me questioned it and sometimes laughed, saying that I was being ‘so deep’. I then deleted what I wrote. If table arrangements were different so that students couldn’t see what others were writing, many would be much more comfortable engaging in their work.
However, many inventions required interaction. Therefore, as Susan Cain wrote, “the way forward...is not to stop collaborating face-to-face, but to refine the way we do it… We should actively seek out symbiotic introvert-extrovert relationships, in which leadership and other tasks are divided according to people’s natural strengths and weaknesses. The most effective teams are composed of a healthy mix of introverts and extroverts, studies show, and so are many leadership structures” (93).
Introverts are normally viewed as the antisocial people whereas extroverts are role models. This idea is put into the minds of students and children by adverts, parents, and teachers. It’s important for teachers to realise that both introverts and extroverts have strengths and weaknesses and advertise the practice of the strengths of both personalities rather than focusing on the strengths of extroverts and the weaknesses of introverts. Also, it would benefit the student’s learning if they were partnered with people that they trust and if table arrangements in creative classes like Art and English were rearranged so that students who needed it were given more private spaces.
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