1210 - Are you an introvert?

Dr.Raj Mohan

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Being an introvert is not something to worry about. It’s more to do with how a person draws his energy from within rather than from external influences.

In the recently conducted The Hindu Education Plus Career Fair, 385 students from classes 9 to 12 from various schools in Chennai and its suburbs took the ‘free personality test’ conducted by Bodhi. This is a part of complete psychometric test called ‘Career Sure Test (CST™) which assesses a student’s interest, internal motivator, aptitude in multiple level and personality to help students make the right career choice.

The following analysis will give some idea about the ‘personality style’ of students today.

Although the sample size is ‘low’ it shows some directions for us to understand some of their expected behaviour patterns. One of the important factors the above test has assessed is ‘Introvert / Extrovert part of one’s personality.

There is a common misunderstanding about the meaning of introverts and extroverts. People believe extroverts to be outgoing, speak more and have less inhibition and introverts as shy, and not social. While the above understanding is not completely wrong the appropriate meaning is slightly but significantly different.

An introvert is a person who draws energy from within, and does not spend much time with others. However it does not mean all introverts are not social.

There are a number of CEOs, who are introverts. On the other hand extroverts are people who draw energy from outside and their general dominant orientation is towards external objects and people. That is why these people are ‘party people’, talkative and outgoing. In fact a high extrovert can be impulsive, and may step on others’ shoes without sensitivity.

There is no need to be defensive about being an introvert or boasting about being extrovert.Both are fine and each one has certain traits which are very positive. I have seen many parents feel bad about their children being introvert. No need to be. Of the 385 students, 63 per cent were extroverts and 37 per cent were introverts.

Also 70.3 per cent showed preference to taking decisions emotionally than logically and 29.7 per cent preferred to take decision logically than emotionally.

Seventy two per cent of extroverts show ‘High amount of Extroversion’ while 63 per cent of people who prefer to take decision emotionally are ‘high in emotion’

The above data threw up few important points for us to ponder:

• High extroverts need to balance their life by spending sufficient time within, which will lead for better introspection

• The combination of high extroverts with high emotions may result in: Making faulty decisions, inconsistency in making decisions, emotional imbalances lead to fear of failure and stress related problems. In extreme cases it may even lead to depression, loss of self esteem and confidence

This analysis may help students to introspect about how they would like to shape up and modify certain behaviour patterns.

(The Hindu, Education plus, Tamil Nadu, 03:06:2013) 

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