this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2024
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Yep. I met extroverts who are absolutely terrified at standing up for themselves.
Damn, I never considered that combination before. Being extroverted with social anxiety would be awful.
Could just mean smaller friend groups as well. I conceptualize the major difference as introverts recharge by being alone and extroverts recharge by being around people. There was some recent research that disputed the concept of introverts and extroverts altogether, noting that when introverts became more regularly connected to people, their mental health improved. Introversion might just be the sum of our fears about connection that keep us from living a fuller life, with avoidance taking the role of an unhealthy coping mechanism for being unwilling to face our social fears. I say THAT because a lot of research has come to the conclusion that we are wired for connection and that the presence of close relationships is a strong predictor of the length of our life.
I also say this as someone with raging social anxiety, it sucks and I just get overwhelmed within a couple hours.
Introverts don't not want social connection. They just prefer a smaller number of deeper connections. "You're not people" is a common sentiment from introverts to their closest friends and family. Most introverts still have and enjoy social connection. They just prefer it in an intimate or chill setting to large groups.
I agree with most/all of this, it just seems like the question is, do they prefer those chill settings because of the increased intimacy OR the safety and relative lack of chaos. Increased positive experiences or decreased aversion? By aversion, I mean, are there sensory issues with crowds? feelings of overwhelm? more social anxiety at the uncertain? etc.
In other words, would introverts who had stronger social skills and newly managed social anxiety symptoms still make the same choices? I think the answer is a pretty solid "I/We don't know" but at least people are working on finding out!