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Updated 03/17/19
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Can Introvert Convert to Extrovert?
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The dominant neuro-pathways for each temperament have been hardwired
since birth, but here is a prevalent myth that introverts can fix themselves to be like an extrovert.... |
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Aside from apparent lack of real evidence that such a ‘fix’ is necessary for survival today:
“….A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers.” “Introverts cannot ‘fix themselves‘, and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race.....” “In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.” http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/articles/what-we-have-learned-about-gifted-children "Top Ten Myths about Introverts": http://giftedforlife.com/2965/the-top-10-myths-about-introverts/ The Internet is rife with pleas to “Quit fixing Introverts!” "Not only will it not work, but you’ll end up with a resentful and angry introvert when it’s all over…" “….Don’t try to force extroversion on an introvert... Accept and respect that different people have different ways of interacting with the world, different ways of communicating and learning….". "One is not better than the other; they both just are…...” "Introversion isn’t a negative quality. It’s not a character flaw to overcome or social obstacle to conquer. It’s a personality trait, one that may very well be biological ingrained". "It makes some people different from other people, the same way brown hair makes some people different from those with blond or red or purple or black or no hair.” http://www.ordinarymer.com/post/42615749627/quit-fixing-introverts Now, an alarm seems to be sounding. Extrovert-dominated classrooms and educators appear intent on altering introvert temperaments... citing concerns those students may not be able to survive in today‘s dominating, outwardly-directed culture. “Our schools, workplaces, and religious institutions are designed for extroverts……” Gareth Cook interviews author Susan Cain http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-power-of-introverts "Our youngest, and therefore perhaps most misunderstood introverts are offered extrovert-dominated counseling and even chemical stimulants to try to improve outward-driven personality traits." -- Teachers today may not appreciate that a child appearing stressed and unable to focus appropriately, could be an over-stimulated introvert in need of some quiet solitude for recharging their brain’s crucial acetylcholine batteries. Without appropriate downtime recharging: ”…..behavior, performance and spirit will suffer; they will not be able to come up with the required energy for learning new things, taking new risks, exploring, developing and thriving.” L. LaFevers is the author of thirteen books for young readers: http://geekmom.com/2011/04/are-you-raising-an-introvert/ Noisy, active recesses can provide the right stimulation for recharging young extrovert brains, but those activities may be very draining for an already over-stimulated introvert. Spending some time alone in a quiet bathroom is an option for all ages: “……Introverted psychology professor Brian Little, PhD, is a brilliant speaker whose lectures at Harvard often ended with standing ovations. Onstage he acted like an extrovert because he wanted to get his message across dynamically. But by the time class was over, Little would feel so spent that he sometimes raced for the nearest bathroom stall to recharge. He knew his own limits and he respected them….."Minibreaks can help you relax so you can gain deeper feelings and insights." Susan Cain http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153/ Recent research developments highlight how important it is to understand the role of young introvert behavior management: it has become almost mainstream to prescribe risky chemical stimulants for students having ostensible learning or focusing issues.... However, earlier this year the Director of the Mood Disorders Program at Tufts Medical Center in Boston disclosed that behavioral management is just as effective as amphetamines: "This is what amphetimine-loving child psychiatrists don't appear to know..." "For functional outcomes -- namely academic achievement, oppositional aggresive behaviors, social skills, parent/child relations - behavioral management was just as effective as amphetamines." Long-term randomized clinical trial (RCT) of amphetamines in childhood, 579 children age 7-10 joined a 14 month RCT, with later follow up of a number of years: Nassir Ghaemi, M.D., M.P.H., February 2013, Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, and Director of the Mood Disorders Program at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mood-swings/201302/bipolar-bad-ritalin-good And the following month: "The American Academy of Neurology has released a position statement denouncing current, popular drug stimulant use by non-ADHD children." Rachel Rettner, March 14, 2013 http://www.livescience.com/27884-adhd-drugs-healthy-kids-prescribing.html Another chemistry consideration: Extrovert brains are hard-wired to use dopamine for main neurotransmitters...... An introvert's brain is hard-wired to use acetylcholine for main neurotransmitters ..... "Stimulants such as amphetamines will act on dopamine and all other brain chemicals except acetylcholine." "....Any resulting imbalance in production or distribution of these chemicals will zap the brain's ability to act alertly..." Cuiffre, Kenneth, MD, with Theresa Foy DiGeronimo, The Care and Feeding of Your brain, p 30-39. NJ:Career Press https://arlenetaylor.org/brain-references/brain-challenges/substances-and-the-brain/2806-amphetamines https://arlenetaylor.org/brain-references/brain-challenges/substances-and-the-brain/2795-acetylcholine https://arlenetaylor.org/brain-references/brain-challenges/substances-and-the-brain/2828-dopamine |
