How Does Society Perceive Introverts and Extroverts? Do These Perceptions Have Warrant?

 At this point in my research, I was planning on finalizing and distributing the survey that I had shared earlier on this blog, along with continuing my investigation of the behavioral differences between these two groups and the reasons for which they occur.  However, for this blog post, I have decided to lead my research on a tangent, inspired by a link that Ms. Hetrick, my AP English II teacher, sent me.  This link leads to an article titled "Here Are the Things Introverts Say on Facebook," where author Melissa Dahl shares with readers the (supposed) typical subjects/words that introverts and extroverts post about on Facebook (this link will also be located at the bottom of this post: http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/12/here-are-the-things-introverts-say-on-facebook.html).  Dahl reports that "the things you say on Facebook apparently reveal a lot about your personality, according to a large new study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology that finds an association between words used in Facebook posts and personality traits."  She goes on to describe the usual words that (according to the study) introverts, as well as extroverts, use in their Facebook status updates, those being for introverts "stereotypical introvert-y things" such as computer, internet, read, and anime (words that one supposedly would use if they were "holed up at home").  In describing words used by extroverts in status updates, she notes that they reportedly post "enthusiastic notes that are more likely to acknowledge the existence of other people," using words such as party, girls, amazing, tonight, and love.  The image at the beginning of this post accompanies this article, with the word clouds on the left meant to represent the posts of extroverts and those on the right meant to represent those of introverts.  This article is somewhat fascinating in that it does identify a link between the activities, if not the thoughts, of introverts and extroverts and the individuals' personalities themselves, but it is moreso intriguing in that both Dahl and the study that she describes seem to support these typical stereotypes.  Researchers conducting the study concluded that introverts, who require less stimulation than extroverts and thus are less likely to go out that they are, are likely to stay indoors, which fuels the subjects for which they post about and thereby the words that they use.  Being "holed up at home," introverts are more supposedly more likely to post about something they found on the internet, read in a book, or watched on the televisions, as they reportedly spend more time at home.  Conversely, being the social butterflies that they are expected to be, Dahl describes that extroverts, who are more likely to be out and about than introverts, will post about a party, being with their "girls,' or having an amazing night.  Whereas there does seem to be a natural link within these relationships, I began to wonder if we may have misconceptions about introverts and extroverts.  We as members of society naturally assume that introverts almost never leave their homes and that extroverts never return to them until 2:00 a.m.  Even Dahl labels some subjects as "stereotypical introvert-y things," and the results of the study seem to be conveniently close to what one would hypothesize.  While it seems that the study's methods were legitimate and valid (they used a personality quiz app to determine whether the subjects whose posts they studied were introverts or extroverts), one has to still wonder what society takes for granted about introverts and extroverts, how many of these assumptions are actually correct, and what society can do to alleviate these misconceptions.  For the time being, I can think of no possible solutions to misconceptions other than increasing communication between the two groups of individuals and possibly educating others on the misconceptions that we hold and the truths that lie behind each group.  Recently, I found an article titled "7 Persistent Myths About Introverts & Extroverts," which I feel serves as an accurate and sufficient list to communicate some of the misconceptions present in society (this link will also be located at the bottom of this post: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/09/11/7-persistent-myths-about-introverts-extroverts/).  The first myth listed in this article is that all "introverts are shy."  While there are many shy introverts, being an introvert does not mean that one is also without a doubt a shy.  The article explains that introverts may "seem shy because they tend to think before they speak," meaning that many other introverts can also be outgoing, but they need time to respond in a situation or conversation simply because they are looking for the correct response.  This point includes a quote from Susan Cain in her book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, which is that "shyness is the fear of social disapproval or humiliation, while introversion is a preference for environments that are not overstimulating.  Shyness is inherently painful; introversion is not."  Along these same lines, the second myth listed in the article is that "introverts do not make good speakers."  If forced to speak on a whim, rather than provided the proper of amount of time for preparation, an introvert may not be able to communicate their points as well as an extrovert, as the amount of stimulus provided to them at once may prove overwhelming.  However, if granted time to prepare a speech or a lecture, introverts can be just as good at public speaking as extroverts, if not better.  For example, the article lists a number of acclaimed public speakers that, in their daily lives, are social introverts.  In fact, one of these acclaimed introverts, a former Harvard University psychology lecturer, literally becomes sick if they are exposed to too much stimuli.  The flood of ideas that attacks an introvert may be too daunting if they are forced to relate them on the spot, but they may actually prove to be competent at public speaking if provided the resources to be organized.  Moving on, the third myth listed in this article is that "introverts aren't happy, or extroverts are happier," which is not the case.  Just as the article relates, introverts and extroverts can have two different views of what "happy" constitutes.  Whereas introverts may seek personal time for self-reflection and recollection, extroverts may see a life filled with the hustle and bustle as ideal.  As the article explains, introverts and extroverts "are happy in different ways."  Introverts may only be happy in low-key, calm situations where the rest of society is not watching, while extroverts may be best satisfied in high-energy situations where everyone is watching.  Moreover, humans gauge each other's happiness based on its visibility, which may be the leading factor behind this confusion.  Like explained before in this blog, the fourth point in the article is that "you are either an introvert or an extrovert."  As explained before, the range of social introversion/extroversion is moreso a continuum, rather than two categories, where most individuals fall in between.  While some individuals may exhibit defining qualities that represent their introversion/extroversion, most individuals vary in behavior based on the situation.  The fifth myth listed in this article is that "extroverts are bad listeners."  In reality, extroverts can actually be great listeners, if engaged in one-on-one conversation.  By being the more engaging of the two types in conversation, they may actually be able to draw otherwise shy individual out of their shells of isolation.  With their constant use of communication, extroverts can possibly make others feel comfortable and included.  The sixth myth listed in this article is that "extroverts don't like quiet or time alone."  Whereas extroverts may not necessarily need such quiet or time alone as often as introverts, the article notes that, like everybody, they too "do need this type of time to recharge...they [just] need it in shorter doses and different ways."  Finally, the last myth touched on by this article is that "extroverts are shallow."  Truthfully, introverts and extroverts just have different methods of processing information, and extroverts may just need to process information through the exploration of numerous deep and complex conversations.  By dominating a conversation, an extrovert may actually be searching for others' reactions so as to understand their opinions of the subject(s) they are discussing.  Overall, society believes that it understands its members.  However, as illustrated in this case, surface impressions do not reveal the entire story.  Both introverts and extroverts are thrown into a negative light at times, but more often than not, it is caused by misconceptions about the two groups.  I will continue to search for how to study society's perceptions about the value of these two groups, as well as how to improve these perceptions relating to personality and value.  Additionally, I ask that when my survey regarding the behavioral differences between social introverts and extroverts (and other related issues) is finally posted that you please participate, and I thank you in advance.  As a piece of advice, begin to look at other possible reasons behind a person's or group's behavior before instantly associating it to a stereotype or generalization, and share these findings with your friends and peers.

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/12/here-are-the-things-introverts-say-on-facebook.html
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/09/11/7-persistent-myths-about-introverts-extroverts/

 WORKS CITED:
Dahl, Melissa.  "Here Are the Things Introverts Say on Facebook."  Science of Us.  New York Media LLC, 12 Dec. 2014.  Web.  19 Dec. 2014.
Tartakovsky, Margarita.  "7 Persistent Myths about Introverts & Extroverts."  Psych Central.  Psych Central, n.d.  Web.  19 Dec. 2014.

Understanding the Effects of Genetics and Environment on Behavioral Differences

 ("Genes and Environment")

Are the behavioral differences between introverts and extroverts moreso due to genetics or environment?  In my prior post, I explained that genetics and environment may contribute equally to behavioral differences in individuals, and that most traits are due to one or the other.  After sitting down with my mentor, Dr. John Peles, who teaches behavioral genetics at Penn State University, Greater Allegheny campus, I have gained a better understanding of the subject and how it relates to the differences between introverts and extroverts, as well as the methods through which human behavior is tested for genetic and environmental influences.  Dr. Peles explained to me that most human behavioral traits are actually found in genetic coding, but that they can still be influenced by environment.  In fact, he described that, in the case of most behavioral traits, genetics has fifty-percent, or half, of the influence, while environment has the other fifty-percent, or half, of the influence.  In other words, he explained to me that, in most cases, humans are genetically predisposed to certain behavioral traits (such as those linked to introverts and/or extroverts), but that environment still plays a key role in determining the expression of said traits.  Referring to such relationship as a "genotype-environment interaction" (genotype is defined as genetic makeup), Dr. Peles described that in some cases, our genotypes influence how we respond to situations, but the situation itself sometimes changes how we respond to subsequent similar situations.  As a disclaimer, genetics and environment do not always play equal roles in determining expression of human behavior - in some cases, genetics and instinct override environmental influences, while in others, environment overrides genetics and instinct - but on average, this fifty-percent rule holds true.  This helps to explain the behavioral differences between introverts and extroverts, for it appears that both genes and environment determine which group an individual associates with.  In many cases, an individual who is genetically predisposed to being an introvert or extrovert (based on stimuli need or pure behavioral encoding) will place themselves in a situation that is conducive to their needs and comfort.  This factor, which is also an attribute of the "genotype-environment interaction," can push individuals further into their respective categories as introverts or extroverts.  However, in some cases, individuals become introverts or extroverts as a result of "pure environment."  For example, an individual may be genetically predisposed to being an extrovert, as they require more stimuli than a genetically predisposed introvert, but because of an embarrassing event or social ridicule, they may be pushed to become an introvert.  As another example, an individual may be genetically predisposed to being an introvert, as they require less stimuli than a genetically predisposed extrovert, but because of attention received through peers, they may be pushed to become an extrovert by accepting the situation and appeasing said peers.  On a different note, Dr. Peles and I also examined the different methods through which researchers determine whether a behavioral difference is influenced by genetics or by environment.  This research was necessary for the fact that I may employ similar methods later in my own research in the field, as well as for the reason that I should generally understand how researchers have determined phenomenon such as the aforesaid fifty-percent rule.  Most experts studying the influences on behavioral differences either a method called the "sibling approach" or a method called the "adoption approach."  In the case of the sibling approach, researchers compare behavioral differences between individual siblings and between individual twins, searching for any attributes that may be due to genetics.  Because siblings generally grow up in the same environment, as they are raised in the same household, it is believed that most of the behavioral differences that they exhibit will not be due to environment.  Rather, by comparing such behavioral differences against pairs of monozygotic twins, who both are exposed to the same environment and genes, researchers can determine to what scale certain genes predispose individuals to behavioral traits.  In the case of the adoption approach, researchers investigate behavioral differences between pairs of twins who have been exposed to different families.  If the twins were separated at birth, so long as they are identical and monozygotic, they will have the same genes, but not the same environment.  Thus, researchers can determine if behavioral traits are due to environment by looking at the behavioral differences exhibited by separated identical twins.  Overall, by understanding how behavioral genetics and the influence of environment works, we can logically explain the behavioral differences between introverts and extroverts.  In my next post, I plan to look at some specific examples in which introverts and extroverts show signs of genetic or environmental influence in their behavioral differences.

As this graphic illustrates, most behavioral traits in an individual are a result of a combination of nature (genes) and nurture (environment), as well as individual choices ("Nature? Nurture? Neither? More?").

Also, for an update on my survey, I believe that the one that I previously posted should be sufficient for the beginning stages of this study, so I plan to be distributing it soon to classrooms, throughout communities, and online.  Please keep a lookout for it in the coming weeks; I would greatly appreciate it if you could fill it out when it becomes available so that I can begin some data studies.


Works Cited:
"Genes and Environment."  Academic Help.  Academic Help, 6 Oct. 2014.  Web.  4 Dec. 2014.
"Nature? Nurture? Neither? More?"  PhD in Parenting.  Squarespace, 15 Dec. 2010.  Web.  4 Dec.