(gentle music)
- [Amanda] What comes to your mind
when you hear the word introvert?
Is it that shy wallflower daydreaming
in the social gathering,
or the quiet kid who rarely spoke up in class?
But wait, did you know there is much more
that describes an introvert
than just their socializing frequency or lack thereof.
There are even different types of introverts.
Who knew, right?
By definition, introverts need time by themselves
to recharge and avoid becoming emotionally drained.
But according to research by a psychology professor
at Wellesley college,
there are four different types of introverts.
These types take into account
the varied personalities of introverts
and acknowledge that introversion is a spectrum.
With that being said,
here are the four types of introverts.
One, social introvert.
Social introvert?
Yeah, you heard that right,
social introverts are both the most outgoing
and the most private of the four types.
They don't feel shy or anxious in social settings,
it may even enjoy them, but they feel emotionally drained
if they stay out for too long.
While social introverts like spending time alone,
they still want a few close friends they can depend on,
and they tend to be the most social
when they're among this group of friends.
Someone who doesn't know them
might even assume that they're an extrovert
if they meet them
when they're hanging out with their close friends,
but social introverts won't share much about themselves
to anyone other than their closest friends.
Two, thinking introvert.
Here, you can conjure the image
of the daydreaming wallflower.
Thinking introverts also don't mind socializing,
but they rarely do so,
because they're lost in their own little world.
They often find themselves daydreaming
and may seem aloof to those who don't know them.
Thinking introverts are also very introspective,
and therefore, more in tuned with their feelings
than the average person.
Other people may have a hard time connecting
with thinking introverts,
because they have a unique thought process
and prefer to experience their thoughts
rather than taking the time and energy
to explain them to others.
Three, anxious introvert.
Do you know of someone
who might replay social encounters in their head
and think about what they said or did
and what they could have done differently?
Perhaps a better label for the the anxious introvert
is the shy introvert.
To differentiate anxious introversion
from anxiety disorders,
anxious introverts crave solitude,
even when they're with their close friends.
They're extremely uncomfortable
in new or large social situations
and analyze or ruminate on their behavior
whenever they're in public.
But it's important to look out for social anxiety disorders
and not have the two mixed.
In extreme cases, this aversion to social situations
may develop into social anxiety.
Although, any personality type,
introverts, extroverts, or ambiverts,
can experience social anxiety or other anxiety disorders.
But if you avoid necessary social situations,
because you have strong physical reactions,
such as shaking, increased heart rate,
or nausea during them,
it is a sign of social anxiety and not shyness
and requires professional attention.
And four, restrained introvert.
Now, this is your introvert next door kind of type.
They get uncomfortable if they feel rushed into situations,
especially social ones.
Restrained introverts are reserved, thoughtful,
and don't like change.
They'll go out if they've planned for it
far enough in advance,
but they would rather be relaxing by themselves,
binging on their favorite shows, reading, or doing yoga.
Restrained introverts find comfort in their routine,
and may also find it difficult
to get their mind and body moving right after they wake up.
They thrive in their routine
and appreciate ample forewarning.
If you think you're an introvert,
but didn't relate to any of these four types,
you may be an ambivert
or closer to the extrovert side of the personality spectrum.
Learning more about your personality type
helps you communicate your needs to people
with different personality types
and strengthens interpersonal relationships.
Did you find this insightful?
Will you now be able to tell the different types apart?
Can you think of any other types?
If you're an introvert,
which of these four types did you relate to?
Share this with an introvert you know
to find out what type they are.
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to hit like,
and subscribe for more content.
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next video.
(gentle music)