Understanding Introversion as a
Personality Trait & Learning Style
OIS Teacher PD Day
November 20, 2015
#oisnov20
https://faithfullyadhd.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/introvert-adhd-huh/
Session Content
Introduction
There will be a test!
What is introversion? (And what is it not?)
What makes us introverted/extroverted?...research
How do introverts experience our schools?
Discussion/Q & A
Time for Self-Evaluation
30 questions: 20 from “Quiet” & 10 from Kiersey
Choose the answer that applies to you more often than not
Determine your score:
“Quiet”: Add up “T” & “F” responses
Kiersey: Add up “A” & “B” responses
Where do you fall out of a total of 30? (T & B = introverted)
With a table-mate,
Share your overall score.
Discuss 2-3 questions which accurately describe your nature.
Discuss 1-2 answers which were surprising.
There is no such thing as a pure
extrovert or pure introvert. Such a man
would be in the lunatic asylum.
Carl Jung
We all exist on a spectrum, as indicated by your scores
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ExtrovertIntrovertSpectrum.png
What is Introversion NOT?
LOTS and LOTS of misconceptions!
Shy
Aloof
Cold
Loner
Hermit
Anti-social
Unfriendly
Dislikes people
Depressed
http://barbaralayla.blogspot.com/2010/07/misunderstanding-introverts-part-one.html
Other examples...
WHO:
Introversion is a potential health problem.
APA:
Introversion is a contributing factor to some personality disorders.
http://disjointedthinking.jeffhughes.ca/2012/03/safe-spaces-for-solitude/
Introversion is now somewhere between
a disappointment and a pathology.
Susan Cain
⅓ to ½
of the human population is thought to be introverted.
A minority in the regular population,but a majority in the
gifted population. Jill Burruss & Lisa Kaenzig
http://advertisementfeature.cnn.com/think-brilliant/the-surprising-power-of-introverts.html
http://advertisementfeature.cnn.com/think-brilliant/the-surprising-power-of-introverts.html
http://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/77/83/1311001446-Introverted_20Thinkers.jpg
What is Introversion?
Jung (1921): introverts are drawn to
the inner world of thought and
feeling; social interactions are taxing,
so they need time alone to recharge.
Influence of popular psychology:
introversion and extroversion now are
typically defined by how outgoing or
shy we are.
And remember the spectrum...
http://quotesgram.com/extrovert-vs-introvert-quotes/#Y2P5zHrE07
For introverts, to be alone with our
thoughts is as restorative as sleeping, as
nourishing as eating.
Jonathan Rauch
Most people in politics draw energy from
backslapping and shaking hands and all
that. I draw energy from discussing
ideas.
Al Gore
How do we become introverts (or extroverts)?
Nature vs. Nurture: How much do we inherit, how much comes from experience?
Temperament (foundation) vs. Personality (building);
Not an either/or proposition
Twin studies: Personality traits are 40 - 50% heritable.
How do we become introverts (or extroverts)?
Studies show that introvert brains are different from extrovert brains…
Hans Eysenck: Levels of cortical arousal (speed & amount of brain activity)
Introverts have higher levels; overwhelmed in highly stimulating situations
Extroverts have lower levels; seek out stimulating situations
RAS regulates arousal operates at a high base level for introverts
PET scans show blood flow to different areas of introvert and extrovert brains
I: areas associated with constructing meaning (inward focus)
E: areas associated with engaging with outside stimuli (outward focus)
http://advertisementfeature.cnn.com/think-brilliant/the-surprising-power-of-introverts.html
How do we become introverts (or extroverts)?
Studies show that introvert brains are different from extrovert brains…
Dopamine study: Processing of rewards
More active dopamine pathways in E brains; reinforces reward-seeking behavior
I brains “buzz” less, so they don’t go as far to seek out rewards
Ritalin study: Internal vs. external cues for reward and motivation
Extroverts attributed pleasure to videos rather than the drug
Introverts were no longer excited by the videos...internal
Gambling study: I & E brains scanned while gambling
Es who won at gambling experienced more pleasure; took more risks
How do we become introverts (or extroverts)?
Jerome Kagan: longitudinal study on reaction to novel stimuli, infancy - age 11
Results: 20% of 4-month-olds were “high-reactive”; 40% “low-reactive”
Which were more likely to become introverts?
Role of amygdala as brain’s “electrical switchboard”
High-reactives are more likely to become introverts, wary of new stimuli
Measurement of high-reactives’ eye movements - “alert attention”
Carl Schwartz: Used fMRI scans on Kagan subjects to look inside their brains
Kagan’s high-reactives tended to react more strongly to photos
Evidence that temperament continues to influence us; but other factors shape
our personalities
Rubber-band theory: personality elasticity exists, but is limited
Neither E=mc2 nor Paradise Lost was
dashed off by a party animal.
Winifred Gallagher
http://www.constructivegrumpiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/introvert-infographic-famous.jpg
A mind forever
Voyaging through strange seas of
Thought alone.
William Wordsworth
(describing Isaac Newton)
Scientists can easily report on the
behavior of extroverts, who can often be
found laughing, talking, or gesticulating.
But if a person is standing in a corner of
a room, you can attribute about 15
motivations to that person. But you dont
really know what’s going on inside.
Elaine Aron
70%
of today’s employees work in an open office plans.
Some people are more certain of
everything than I am of anything.
Robert Rubin
What does this mean for our students?
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/05/23/32introvert_ep.h31.html
What an extroverted act it is in the first
place to go to school. All day long, you
are in a classroom full of people with
constant stimulation.
Susan Cain
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Unknown
Many schools are designed for extroverts
Think about how introverted kids experience a day at school:
•
•
•
•
Large group instruction in classes of 20 and more
Emphasis on teamwork instead of independent work
Focus on group discussions, social gregariousness
High levels of noise and activity
Do we:
•
•
•
•
•
Provide opportunities to work both in groups and individually?
Allow time for thinking before responding?
Have spaces where kids can recharge?
Create opportunities for students to practice skills that terrify introverts?
Let a preference for extroverted traits influence our assessment of
students?
Secondary School Student Development Report
Motivation for learning
• Actively engages in learning
through listening, speaking, reading
and writing.
• Works independently.
• Perseveres when problem solving
by using a variety of different
methods and questioning techniques
to reach a solution.
• Takes initiative in class and is
proactive when working on
assignments.
Social Responsibility
• Makes informed decisions and
displays ethical behavior.
• Takes responsibility for self and is
accountable for own actions.
• Is socially conscious and mindful
of others.
Social / Emotional Intelligence
• Is empathetic, open-minded and
actively listens to others.
• Is a risk taker, challenges self to
creative problem-solving, and explains
thinking processes and solutions.
• Collaborates well with peers and
works effectively and efficiently in a
team environment.
• Allows others to share thoughts
and is considerate of various
perspectives.
Personal Management
• Comes prepared to learn with all
required materials.
• Punctual to class, manages time
effectively during the lesson and
meets deadlines.
• Is ready and willing to learn and
asks for support when necessary.
http://ideas.ted.com/how-to-teach-a-young-introvert/
Practical suggestions that could benefit introverts
• Mix up approaches the both Is & Es favor: lectures, downtime, independent
projects (I); movement, stimulation, collaborative work (E).
• Wait-time is HUGE! Write out answers to questions posed in class, perhaps.
• Be aware that introverts will have 1-2 deep interests that might them appear
freaky & invite teasing. Praise, encourage, help them find others like them.
• Use pairs and 3s for collaborative work; keep things structured by assigning
clearly defined roles.
• Independent work will help extroverts, too (mastery)!
• Don’t force participation; make it easy, create a safe environment instead.
Several studies show that extroverts get
better grades than introverts during
elementary school, but introverts
outperform extroverts in high school &
college.
One study tested 141 college students’
knowledge of 20 different subjects, from
art to astronomy to statistics, and found
that introverts knew more than the
extroverts about every single one of
them.
At the university level, introversion
predicts academic performance better
than cognitive ability.
Sources
Cain, Susan. "Must Great Leaders Be Gregarious?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Sept. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/opinion/sunday/introverts-make-great-leaders-too.html?_r=1>.
Cain, Susan. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. New York: Crown, 2012. Print.
"Personality Test - Keirsey.com *** Keirsey Temperament Sorter II." Personality Test - Keirsey.com *** Keirsey Temperament Sorter II.
Web. 3 Nov. 2015.
Rauch, Jonathan. "Caring for Your Introvert." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 1 Mar. 2003. Web. 24 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/03/caring-for-your-introvert/302696/>.
Dodd, Scott. "Is President Obama’s Personality Type To Blame for His Disastrous Debate Performance?" Slate Magazine. 5 Oct. 2012.
Web. 3 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2012/10/obama_s_denver_debate_performance_introverted_personalities
_are_misunderstood_.html>.
Sources
"How to Teach a Young Introvert." Ideastedcom. 2 Sept. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. <http://ideas.ted.com/how-to-teach-a-youngintrovert/>.
"Studies Illustrate Plight of Introverted Students." Education Week. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/05/23/32introvert_ep.h31.html>.
"The Science of What Makes an Introvert and an Extrovert." Io9. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <http://io9.com/the-science-behind-extroversionand-introversion-1282059791>.
"Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert? What It Means For Your Career." Fast Company. 21 Aug. 2013. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.fastcompany.com/3016031/leadership-now/are-you-an-introvert-or-an-extrovert-and-what-it-means-for-your-career>.