The Trend That is Introversion

Someone jokingly said to me the other day that it has become a bit of a fashion trend for people to label themselves as an introvert.

 I am not sure about the trend but I have noticed that we are talking about introversion a lot more, which is to be welcomed. I am a lifelong introvert myself (sometimes I wonder whether age is making me more introverted but then again I could just be becoming a grumpy old man, my wife tells me). As such, I have always explored the deeper elements of introversion, simply as a way of trying to understand myself to be honest.

For years, introverts have been misunderstood as socially awkward or shy individuals, but recent research is revealing the true strengths and benefits of this personality trait.

I thought it was high time that we actually discussed what introversion actually is and how it shows up in our lives and work.

It is often misunderstood and misrepresented in popular culture, leading to many misconceptions about what it means to be an introvert. There are a number of myths or misunderstandings about what it is to be an introvert so let’s try to address them in this article.

Introversion is not shyness. While introverted people may be shy or anxious in social situations, this is not always the case. Introversion is about how a person processes and responds to stimuli, not about their level of confidence or comfort in social situations. 

Often people say to me, “I would never have you down as an introvert. I mean you speak from stages, have your radio show and podcast and show up on TV. Surely these are extroverted tendencies.”

That is not the case at all. My ability to do any of these things is more about the skillsets that I have developed over time and my ability to adapt my ‘energy’ to any given situation rather than where I sit on the introversion/extroversion spectrum. I put extra energy to be in that frame of mind which means that when I come off the stage or radio show, I feel slightly more tired than perhaps an extroverted person might do. Simply because I might have expended more energy on the task.

Introverted people tend to feel drained after spending a lot of time around others, and need time alone to recharge. This does not mean that they don't enjoy socialising or that they are anti-social; it simply means that they have different needs when it comes to social interaction.

Introverted people often enjoy deep and meaningful conversations, rather than small talk or superficial chit-chat. This is because introverts tend to focus more on the inner world of thoughts and ideas, rather than the outer world of social interactions. On a side note, I simply adore deep, one-to-one interactions. I don’t particularly enjoy networking meetings. Typically, I’m the one who sits in the back, maybe talks to one or two others and leaves as soon as the event is over, while others mill around chatting. I’m not rude. It’s just not what I enjoy doing.

However, I have many people who reach out to me on LinkedIn, for example, who might want to have a one-to-one conversation. If I can make the time or the other person piques my interest, I can end up building really deep relationships through inspired conversations. I love connecting with people at that level.

Introverted people are often good listeners and thoughtful decision-makers, which can make them great leaders. They may not be as outgoing or charismatic as some extroverted leaders, but they can be just as effective. 

Introversion is not an all-or-nothing trait; rather, it exists on a spectrum. Some people may be highly introverted, while others may be only slightly introverted. It is important to remember that everyone is unique and that introversion is just one aspect of a person's personality. 

Often we like to box people under a title because it helps to compartmentalise them in our minds. However, the truth is that everyone is going to e at a different part of the spectrum and that no two introverts will be exactly the same (the same can be said for many characteristics that often think about when discussing diversity. Bizarrely, this kind of thinking actually takes us away from being inclusive because literally, everyone is different to the next person).

Introversion is a complex and multifaceted trait that is often misunderstood. By understanding what introversion really looks like, we can appreciate the strengths and qualities of introverted individuals and create more inclusive and understanding communities.

There is some evidence to suggest that introversion is on the increase in modern society, although it is difficult to determine the exact reasons for this trend. There are a few factors that may contribute to the apparent rise of introversion:

• Technology: With the rise of social media and other digital technologies, people are able to connect and communicate with others without leaving their homes or interacting face-to-face. This may make it easier for introverted individuals to engage in social interactions on their own terms, without feeling overwhelmed by large crowds or noisy environments.
•  Changing workplace culture: As the nature of work shifts from traditional office environments to more flexible and remote arrangements, introverted individuals may find it easier to thrive. Remote work can provide a quieter and more controlled environment, allowing introverts to focus on their work without being overstimulated by constant social interaction.
•  Increasing awareness and acceptance: As more research is conducted on introversion and its benefits, and as society becomes more accepting of different personality types, introverted individuals may feel more comfortable expressing their natural tendencies. This can help to reduce the stigma and discrimination that introverts may have faced in the past.

It's worth noting, however, that while there may be an increase in the number of people who identify as introverted, it's also possible that people are simply becoming more aware of what introversion is and how it differs from shyness or social anxiety. In any case, it's important to remember that introversion is just one aspect of personality and that everyone is unique in their own way.

There has been some research conducted on the trend of introversion, although the results are not conclusive and there is some debate about whether introversion is actually on the rise. Here are some examples of research studies that have explored this topic:

A study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences in 2012 found that college students in the United States were more likely to identify as introverted in the early 2010s than in the early 1990s. The study also found that students in the early 2010s were more likely to score higher on measures of introversion and lower on measures of extraversion.

Another study published in the journal ‘Frontiers in Psychology’ in 2017 examined data from the General Social Survey, a large-scale study of social attitudes and behaviours in the United States. The researchers found that self-reported introversion had increased slightly among Americans between 1972 and 2012.

A survey conducted by the market research firm YouGov in 2018 found that more than half of Americans (53%) identified as introverted, compared to 47% who identified as extroverted.

There is limited UK-based research specifically examining trends in introversion, but some studies have explored related topics such as social anxiety and loneliness, which may be more prevalent among introverted individuals.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychology in 2015 found that social anxiety had increased among young people in the UK over the past decade. The researchers suggested that this trend may be related to increased social media use and other factors that can lead to social comparison and self-consciousness. The question that pervades is our increasing reliance on tools such as social media, online gaming and even AI, which is making us more insular and lessening our ability to communicate or socialise with others.

A survey conducted by the British Red Cross in 2016 found that more than 9 million people in the UK often or always feel lonely and that young people were particularly likely to experience loneliness. While loneliness is not synonymous with introversion, it may be more common among introverted individuals who prefer solitary activities and may find it harder to connect with others.

A study published in the journal BMC Public Health in 2019 examined trends in physical activity and sedentary behaviour among adults in the UK. The study found that sedentary behaviour had increased over the past decade, while physical activity had decreased. While this trend is not specific to introverts, it may reflect broader cultural changes that prioritise screen time and indoor activities over outdoor and social pursuits.

Overall, while there is some evidence to suggest that introversion may be on the rise in certain contexts or populations, the evidence is not consistent across all studies and more research is needed to fully understand this trend.

However, I have certainly noticed that more and more people talk openly about introversion and self-identify themselves as introverted.

There are ways of measuring whether you are introverted. Behavioural preference tests, such as Myers-Briggs, DISC and many others rely upon your level of introversion to be able to measure your behavioural preference. All of these tests are largely based upon the ‘Jungian Principles’ as first created by Carl Jung.

I have found one that is consistently accurate whenever I have tried it with others and it is a great free resource here. Why not give it a go and see where you sit on the introversion/extroversion scale?

Kul Mahay is a former senior UK police officer.

For the past 8 years, he has helped a wide range of organisations, shape their leaders and cultures to become much more human-centred.

He has worked with countless introverted leaders on building their communication and public speaking skills. Kul is a regular TV presenter, radio presenter and host of the Human Centred Leadership podcast.