Is there any advantage to being extremely introverted?

Once you realize the vast majority of people are selfish, phonies and obsessed with making other people miserable you'll then realize that being an introvert is the best gift you can ever give yourself.

Welcome aboard. You're one of the special ones.

There have been a couple of comments about extroverts being sales guys. I hear this ALL the time. I'm introverted, but I'm in sales biotech sales, and modesty aside, I'm very good at it. I make a lot of money and I am well known in my industry as a top-performer (I know that sounds cocky). The myth that good sales guys need to be extroverts is just that - a myth.

The biggest advantage to introversion is the ability to entertain oneself. Considering adult life is mostly periods of boredom punctuated by spurts of activity, this skill comes in handy.

I'm an introvert, which I used to think was a weakness, but learned it definitely has its perks. I just hate it when people think I'm shy. There is a difference between being shy and being quiet/reserved. I enjoy being with people.

- Internal motivation. I don't depend on other people or external rewards to do something.

- Observation. I listen more and am intuitive with people.

- Creativity. I'm very good with written communication, art, etc. because my mind is always thinking and visualizing.

- Getting along with extroverts. If everyone was an extrovert, there would be a lot of yelling. Introverts and extroverts balance each other out.

It allows one to withstand the extreme social isolation and boredom inherent in basement dwelling.

I don't want to answer.

This is why I visit this site! hahahha

It might not be a life or social advantage. In fact is probably leads to a miserable life. But you never know if those alleles that are responsible for it will save the human race one day. Like if the shiest people also carry the strongest genes for providing immunity against the mother of all bubonic plagues in the future.

I am situational. I am introverted around my peers but am a jibber jabberer around my students. I am probably just immature but I think there is more to it than that. I don't like the "faces" that adults wear. Fifteen year olds just don't give a shiX. I like their style!

I love my wife because she leans towards "extroverted". I enjoy being social--I just don't want to be the one doing the talking. I like listening and chiming in every once in a while. The nice thing about not talking much is that when you do talk everyone listens.

Also, its not like you are either extroverted or introverted. There is a spectrum of possibilities. This isn't an either or situation. This binary thinking is just a form of labeling and is really quite harmful and inaccurate.

Foucault would give me a high five and most of you a slap on the wrist! tsk tsk

JIM RYUN is extremely introverted and he was 1:39--3:24--3:41 runner in 1967 in SUMMER OF LOVE.

(Also masculine GOD)

"I can never do sales, teaching, or management because dealing with people makes me miserable"

That does not mean you are an introvert. That just means you don't want to do that kind of job.

It depends. Are you content with being introverted? The fact that you are seeking justifications for, or confirmation that being introverted is a positive thing suggests that you may feel unfulfilled in being introverted. (an assumption)

It is certainly possible that someone's insular personality is fueled as much by anxiety, a lack of self-confidence or an unhealthy disdain for other individuals or society as it is by self-contentment. If this is the case, I see few advantages in being introverted.

I, by tendency, am somewhat introverted. This is driven in large part by the negative stuff I listed. I might be nervous about how well I express myself, expect that I am not funny (or have an annoying laugh or bad breath etc.), or, alternatively, think that those in the room are too simple to get just how awesome and superior I am. All of these are shitty reasons for being introverted, and lead to frustration.

Whilst not striving to be 'extroverted' per say, engaging in social interaction can engender a sense of empowerment. While you may still choose to remain quiet and be left alone, you also realize that you can tackle situations that demand you to engage with those around you. (like being lazy the week after a good race - feels better than being lazy because you hate running or hate loosing or are afraid to try).

Moreover, it also depends on how well you take advantage of introversion: Do you exercise your mind with more reading, do you learn languages, do art, build model airplanes? Or do you sit and watch TV and vegetate because, without social interaction, there is little to do?

The fact that 'dealing with people makes [you] miserable', I feel, is a bad sign. Just as it would be negative for some socialite to say 'being alone makes me miserable'. It is probably best to achieve a mediated state in which you can say, 'I prefer spending time with my myself to interaction in groups'.

^ This. In general, getting ahead in work means doing things that are not that comfortable or pleasant (traffic, long hours, not laughing at horrible ideas), but that are bearable if succeeding is important to you. There is nothing special about introversion, and getting over it to win at work is achievable just like anything else.