For each of the questions below, answer true or false to see how much you really know about introverts.
T/F Being an introvert is about personality.
False: Being an introvert isn’t about our personalities or how much we like small talk; it’s wired into our brains and nervous systems. Introverts and extroverts use different primary neurotransmitters, nervous system divisions, and brain pathways.
T/F You can change from being an introvert to extrovert or vice versa.
False: Because being introverts or extroverts is wired into our brains and nervous systems, we don’t change from one to another. Picture a continuum with “introvert” on one end and “extrovert” on the other. Research shows we all move toward the introvert end as we age, but we don’t cross the middle line.
T/F Many people are ambiverts.
False: Being an introvert or extrovert is like being right or left-handed. We use both of our hands for many tasks each day but one is naturally dominant, even if only slightly (only 1% of people are truly ambidextrous). You can find out whether introversion or extroversion is dominant for you with my one-minute quiz.
T/F There are many more extroverts than introverts in the world.
False: A study by the Myers-Briggs Foundation in partnership with Stanford Research Institute found 50.7% of people are introverts.
T/F Introversion is the same as shyness or social anxiety.
False: According to research, 90% of people describe themselves as shy at some point during their lives. 13% will be diagnosed with social anxiety. Shyness and social anxiety are about fear; introversion is about how we’re wired.
T/F Introvert activities like reflecting, creating, and strategizing aren’t as tiring as external activities.
False: Internal activities burn energy too. A study showed chess grand masters burn up to six thousand calories a day, have stress responses similar to those of elite athletes, and “sustain blood pressure for hours in the range found in competitive marathon runners.”
T/F Extroverts make better leaders than introverts.
False: A recent global leadership sample revealed 56.8% of leaders are introverts and a ten-year study showed introvert CEOs were, “slightly more likely to surpass the expectations of their boards and investors.” Introverts and extroverts can both make great leaders.
Want to learn more about being an introvert?
I believe we’re created as introverts and extroverts, both with incredible gifts and potential.
I’d love to be your guide as you discover how to overcome introvert struggles, maximize your strengths, and offer your gifts to a world that needs them more than ever before!
Learn more about everything in this post and what it really means to be an introvert in, The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You. (For a limited time, get $75+ of free bonuses when you preorder now!)
