Introverts find contentment in solitude and love to immerse themselves in their own thoughts and ideas. However, this doesn’t mean they are shy or reluctant to engage socially—many simply have little interest in it! In this article, we’ll explore 19 indicators that you’re introverted rather than just avoiding social interaction.
Creative
Creative Market says introversion often goes hand-in-hand with high creativity because introverts are reflective, with a rich inner life and good imaginations. Consequently, they make great writers, painters, designers, and creators—and are comfortable in the solitude often required to pursue such passions.
Good Listeners
Due to their preference for meaningful conversations and tendency to think before they speak, introverts are excellent listeners and often listen more than they talk. While extroverts may constantly let ‘their inner voice out,’ the opposite is true for introverts, who typically only speak when they have something relevant and valuable to say.
Love of Solitude
Unlike shyness, which stems from a fear of social judgment and a lack of self-confidence, introverts find peace in spending time alone and often require ‘alone time’ to maintain their mental health and recharge. Introvert, Dear states that introverts rarely feel lonely and, in fact, greatly look forward to and cherish time to themselves.
Deep Conversations
Introverts often shun large social gatherings like parties, but not because they are uncomfortable around people—they simply don’t enjoy meaningless small talk with lots of different people. According to author Christopher Laine, introverted people like people as individuals (not groups) and prefer a deep, meaningful conversation over frivolous niceties.
Small Circle of Friends
The New York Times maintains that introverts tend to keep a tight-knit group of friends and prefer quality over quantity in friendships. This is because they often take the time to foster deep bonds with their friends and value meaningful connections over a whole phonebook of less well-known acquaintances.
Overthinking
Introverts tend to be slightly more serious than extroverts and often ‘think things through’ in-depth before speaking or taking action. Psychology Today says this overly thoughtful approach can be mistaken for shyness or fearfulness, but it’s really just about wanting to make the right decisions and express themselves accurately.
Dislike of Crowds
Many introverts avoid places where they’re likely to encounter crowds, like busy concerts. This isn’t because they fear people, but because they process social stimuli more intensely than extroverts. Noisy, packed venues can quickly become overwhelming and unpleasant, so a quiet evening at home with a friend is often preferable!
Highly Observant
According to INFJ Male Psychology, introverts are keen observers and pick up on nuances or details that others might miss. This comes from their more measured, thoughtful natures and a tendency to ‘stand back and take stock’ of a situation instead of diving in head-first. This attentiveness often makes them good listeners and empathetic friends.
Need to Prepare
Introverts need a lot of warning before large social gatherings or busy events. This isn’t because they fear them, but because the noise and hectic atmosphere can intensely drain their mental energy. If you require plenty of mental preparation before heading to parties or clubs (and downtime afterward), you’re likely an introverted individual.
Preference for Written Messages
Many introverts find telephone calls invasive and will avoid them unless absolutely necessary. Online LinkedIn instructor Bob McIntosh reports that they find it easier to express themselves in writing, preferring the time to think through their messages and articulate themselves properly over the immediacy of more mentally stressful conversations.
Hating Small Talk
Talking to many people about trivial or insignificant topics (like the weather or gossip) is something introverts find pointless and challenging. Because they crave more profound and meaningful exchanges, they find shallow conversations unfulfilling and often avoid them. It’s not shyness—they just find small talk painfully frivolous.
Independent
Self-reliance is common among introverts, who are often confident in their abilities and comfortable doing things alone. VeryWell Mind claims that introversion doesn’t pair well with careers requiring a lot of social interaction but that introverts do well in careers with high independence, e.g., as computer programmers, accountants, artists, and writers.
Social Media Observer
Introverted individuals are more likely to consume content on social media than create their own. While they may enjoy observing the lives and opinions of others, they will only actively post or engage when they feel they have something worthwhile and meaningful to say—typically with posts or comments that are thoughtful and considered.
Valuing Privacy
Unsurprisingly, introverts value privacy more than people with more outgoing personality types. They don’t have more to hide; introverts just find nosiness and prying invasive and prefer to share their personal problems and life choices with close friends, away from public scrutiny.
Selectivity
Introverts are less likely to follow others or participate in activities that don’t align with their values and interests. While extroverts may engage in trendy or socially acceptable behavior just to avoid exclusion, most introverts are far more selective. They typically only participate if they genuinely want to and are less susceptible to peer pressure.
Rarely Lonely
According to IMAGE Magazine, extreme introverts can be seen to be depressed because they spend the vast majority of their time alone. However, they’re often happy in solitude and avoid boredom by pursuing their own hobbies and interests. Introversion comes with self-sufficiency, and this applies to social needs, too.
Deeply Focused
Introverts have good attention spans and tend not to flit from one project or hobby to another. They frequently get deeply involved and focused on tasks, happily immersing themselves in their work for extended periods, often in contented solitude. This can make them very productive and efficient employees.
Internal Processing
Most introverts naturally keep their thoughts inside and process them internally. While they may share their feelings with close friends, they typically only do so when prompted or necessary. Otherwise, they prefer to work through their feelings independently and come to their own conclusions or solutions.
Energy Management
Intense social gatherings, crowded venues, and busy events can be ‘too much’ for introverts, so they tend to expose themselves to such stimuli in small doses and require time before and after to ‘recharge’ their social batteries. Most introverts understand their own needs and manage their social energy levels to avoid feeling ‘burnt out’ by people.