Some of you may have seen a post we did recently about the various differences between introverts and extroverts. Well now we’re back to show you what it looks like inside an introvert’s head with the help of these insightful illustrations.
Made by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West, the illustrations, which first appeared on Quietrev, perfectly encapsulate what it means to be an introvert. While introverts are often branded “antisocial” and “boring”, Many people probably don’t realize that being an introvert or an extrovert isn’t necessarily a behavioral choice. For example, studies have shown that an introvert’s brain processes information in an entirely different way to their social and outgoing opposites. Whereas extroverts process stimuli quickly, the neural pathway for handling information is longer for introverts and so it becomes harder for them to process information and events. Take a look at the illustrations below to see what we mean. You’ll never think about introverts in the same way again.
More info: Liz Fosslien | Mollie West
1. According to The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney, introverts have a longer neural pathway for processing stimuli. Information runs through a pathway that is associated with long term memory and planning. In other words, it’s more complicated for introverts to process interactions and events. As they process information, introverts are carefully attending to their internal thoughts and feelings at the same time.
2. According to studies by psychologist Hans Eysenck, introverts require less stimulation from the world in order to be awake and alert than extroverts do. This means introverts are more easily over-stimulated.
3. The flip side of introverts’ sensitivity to dopamine is that they need less of it to feel happy. Extroverts’ brains run on an energy-spending nervous system, whereas introverts’ brains run on an energy-conserving nervous system. This is why introverts feel content and energized when reading a book, thinking deeply, or diving into their rich inner world of ideas.
4. Introverts’ brains aren’t as strongly rewarded for gambling or taking risks as extroverts’ brains are. The brain’s reward and pleasure system is activated by dopamine neurotransmitters. Scientists found that extroverts’ brains responded with more pleasure to positive gambling results. In other words, introverts feel less excitement from surprise or risk.
5. The introvert’s brain treats interactions with people at the same intensity level that it treats encounters with inanimate objects. Introverts process everything in their surroundings and pay attention to all the sensory details in the environment, not just the people.
6. As introverts are thinking, they reach back into long-term memory to locate information. An introvert will often compare old and new experiences when making a decision, which slows the processing down but leads to carefully thought-out decisions. This means that introverts have an active dialogue with themselves and usually walk around with many thoughts in their minds.
These illustrations first appeared on Quietrev.com
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Finally i realize that everything is actually alright with me and i might not be a weirdo, i am just an introvert! Thank you!!!
Great post, thank you! For example I am typical extrovert and it is quite difficult for me to live when my wife and my best friend are introverts. I usually do everything on spot and my wife stops me from doing stupid things. Sometimes I encourage her to do some exciting things she wouldn't do by herself. So when understanding comes, introvert and extrovert worlds can combine and make really beautiful life :)
Exactly! All you need is understanding. It's actually very simple.
Load More Replies...
I was confused and often frustrated about my nature till I took the MBTI test. Give it an honest try to know more about your personality. Be honest to yourself. You'll be surprised how accurate the description can be according to your answers.. At http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
"Some of you may have seen a post we did recently about the various differences between introverts and extroverts." Yes, practically every day, isn't it?
This is pretty much the most accurate thing ive ever read. Great insight.
This fits me to a tee. I've always been an introvert and the best way for me to describe it is that interacting all the time with people is really draining. I'm always exhausted after hanging out with people.
Hey, a really good post. I am the person who prefers really Deep conversations over small talk like on Psychology, Philosophy cause I am an Introvert
This makes a lot of sense. I'm introverted, and have been labeled depressed or lonely. Not so; I enjoy others on a limited basis, but then prefer to run to my room to be alone. I like it. When I do go out socially, I am definitely looking for the time I can go home. I guess I'm not so weird after all!
.. Oh God. Useually I've been a bit of both, but the more I know about the difference between an introvert and an extrovert, the more I know which one I probably am, full and completely! - introvert is just...me.
I love it, it's so relatable! But I must be the only introvert doodler on the internet who doesn't like cats! lol --> lilasdoodles.blogspot.com
The one about the amount of time spent at a party is definitely true.
Seems to be a well thought out explanation. Kudos to the author and illustrator.
No. 2 reminds me of a party I attended about a year ago. First I was like: "This is gonna be awesome!". Ten minutes later: "So, when is this going to end?"
So true for me! If only some of my classmates read this; They think I'm weird and call me by not so nice nicknames.
It seems that the acknowledgement of introvertive behavior has only been recognized within the past couple of years. I wonder how my life might have turned out, had my introversion been recognized and respected when I was young, rather than puzzled over and frowned upon by those who had to deal with me. I'm still not certain how I managed to survive the horrors of cruel school teachers and years of existential confusion, often wondering how I could survive in a world that felt so harsh and uncaring. It's taken a long time (nearly 70 years!) to realize that in spite of being terrified of certain types of human interactions, I must have had enormous courage to face the challenges that an extroverted world subjected me to. Even more miraculous is the fact that I managed then, as I do today, to find joy and inspiration. Books, music, and a handful of amazing people who "got" who I was made all the difference in the world, and I am enormously grateful!
This is a really great article. For me it cements the idea that I am an introvert trapped in the body of an extrovert. Ironically, the article posits the internalizations of situations and how the complexity manifests externally. I'd like to see a similar analysis for the external approaches to these situations and how the directness manifests internally. In simple terms this article focuses on the passive internalization with an emphasis on introverts. Conversely it would be highly interesting to see the Active external behaviour and how it results internally. Okay, not much simpler.
Nothing is as simple as it seems. I have most of these symptoms but I'm seen as an extrovert. I am an optimistic person with good communication skills but I'm not a party person, I love to read, I have a restless mind ,full of thoughts and ideas....So we come in various types, all we need is a bit of patience towards each-other.
Haha that is because people do not know what is been extrovert. People think that it is social and happy, but since a psicological point of view it is really different :) The biggest problem is that professional journalist are making it worst when they try to explain it. This is sad, but it is really common in many other areas like economy, technology etc. Simply do not read a newspaper after the main daily news. Try to use Feedly and serious specialize bloggers if you wanna be tunned into specialize topics
Load More Replies...
Finally i realize that everything is actually alright with me and i might not be a weirdo, i am just an introvert! Thank you!!!
Great post, thank you! For example I am typical extrovert and it is quite difficult for me to live when my wife and my best friend are introverts. I usually do everything on spot and my wife stops me from doing stupid things. Sometimes I encourage her to do some exciting things she wouldn't do by herself. So when understanding comes, introvert and extrovert worlds can combine and make really beautiful life :)
Exactly! All you need is understanding. It's actually very simple.
Load More Replies... I was confused and often frustrated about my nature till I took the MBTI test. Give it an honest try to know more about your personality. Be honest to yourself. You'll be surprised how accurate the description can be according to your answers.. At http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
"Some of you may have seen a post we did recently about the various differences between introverts and extroverts." Yes, practically every day, isn't it?
This is pretty much the most accurate thing ive ever read. Great insight.
This fits me to a tee. I've always been an introvert and the best way for me to describe it is that interacting all the time with people is really draining. I'm always exhausted after hanging out with people.
Hey, a really good post. I am the person who prefers really Deep conversations over small talk like on Psychology, Philosophy cause I am an Introvert
This makes a lot of sense. I'm introverted, and have been labeled depressed or lonely. Not so; I enjoy others on a limited basis, but then prefer to run to my room to be alone. I like it. When I do go out socially, I am definitely looking for the time I can go home. I guess I'm not so weird after all!
.. Oh God. Useually I've been a bit of both, but the more I know about the difference between an introvert and an extrovert, the more I know which one I probably am, full and completely! - introvert is just...me.
I love it, it's so relatable! But I must be the only introvert doodler on the internet who doesn't like cats! lol --> lilasdoodles.blogspot.com
The one about the amount of time spent at a party is definitely true.
Seems to be a well thought out explanation. Kudos to the author and illustrator.
No. 2 reminds me of a party I attended about a year ago. First I was like: "This is gonna be awesome!". Ten minutes later: "So, when is this going to end?"
So true for me! If only some of my classmates read this; They think I'm weird and call me by not so nice nicknames.
It seems that the acknowledgement of introvertive behavior has only been recognized within the past couple of years. I wonder how my life might have turned out, had my introversion been recognized and respected when I was young, rather than puzzled over and frowned upon by those who had to deal with me. I'm still not certain how I managed to survive the horrors of cruel school teachers and years of existential confusion, often wondering how I could survive in a world that felt so harsh and uncaring. It's taken a long time (nearly 70 years!) to realize that in spite of being terrified of certain types of human interactions, I must have had enormous courage to face the challenges that an extroverted world subjected me to. Even more miraculous is the fact that I managed then, as I do today, to find joy and inspiration. Books, music, and a handful of amazing people who "got" who I was made all the difference in the world, and I am enormously grateful!
This is a really great article. For me it cements the idea that I am an introvert trapped in the body of an extrovert. Ironically, the article posits the internalizations of situations and how the complexity manifests externally. I'd like to see a similar analysis for the external approaches to these situations and how the directness manifests internally. In simple terms this article focuses on the passive internalization with an emphasis on introverts. Conversely it would be highly interesting to see the Active external behaviour and how it results internally. Okay, not much simpler.
Nothing is as simple as it seems. I have most of these symptoms but I'm seen as an extrovert. I am an optimistic person with good communication skills but I'm not a party person, I love to read, I have a restless mind ,full of thoughts and ideas....So we come in various types, all we need is a bit of patience towards each-other.
Haha that is because people do not know what is been extrovert. People think that it is social and happy, but since a psicological point of view it is really different :) The biggest problem is that professional journalist are making it worst when they try to explain it. This is sad, but it is really common in many other areas like economy, technology etc. Simply do not read a newspaper after the main daily news. Try to use Feedly and serious specialize bloggers if you wanna be tunned into specialize topics
Load More Replies... 
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