Today, we’re looking at the difference between introverts and extroverts. So, let’s dive right into it.Most introverts and extroverts don’t spend ALL the time in that state, but drift somewhere between both states.
Many people see being introverted as a hindrance and indeed, (sadly) society does seem to favour extroverts. Being an introvert can be a challenge, both socially, educationally and from an employment perspective – both obtaining and maintaining employment.
Most people think that being an introvert or extrovert explains how you relate to people but, in reality, it explains how you react to social and environmental stimuli.
The extrovert and introvert brains engage in the dopamine reward system differently. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which rewards certain pleasurable behaviours, and encourages you to repeat them. Extroverts are motivated by social stimuli and environments which provide for that. This alone excites the extrovert, producing more dopamine, which keeps the cycle going. The opposite is true of an introvert.
The introvert’s brain gets easily overwhelmed by dopamine, causing the person to avoid those experiences which lead to the release of overwhelming amounts of dopamine. Instead, the introvert prefers acetylcholine (a different, slow-release neurotransmitter). It is currently unclear why introverts favour acetylcholine, but it is suspected that these people may have more AT receptors than D receptors.
From a functional perspective, one of the things that most people notice is that extroverts thrive on and are energised by social situations and introverts find their energy is sapped by them.
Where do I fall? Well, I’m very much an introvert, most of the time. And I’m pretty unapologetic about it. However, if you’d like some help to come out of your shell, we might be able to help you. Get in touch to arrange a free no obligation online consultation. We work with people all over the world!
