<p>Shyness is the awkwardness people feel when approaching or getting approached by others. Unlike introverts, who feel energized by time alone, shy people desperately want to connect with others, but dont know how or cant tolerate the anxiety that comes with human interaction. The two get confused because they both are related to socializingbut lack of interest in socializing is very clearly not the same as fearing it. If you talk to a quiet person on campus enough, you might save their daytheir lives.</p>
<p>Incorrect in my opinion. Shyness is not a personality trait like introvert or extrovert. Shyness is when you know someone, or wanna say something, but it feels awkward and you don’t do it… maybe the best example of shyness is you dont wanna be seen… or heard by a particular person. Can you bring urself to talk or sing to a large crowd? I can’t, but im improving. Everyone has been shy in certain situations. I am an introvert and besides public speaking, I am not shy. I have conversations with everyone… i’m not energized by being alone… its just that i’m okay with being alone. I can go weeks without ineraction and be fine. Shyness doesn’t have to involve socislizing or fear</p>
<p>Shyness, anxiety, and social disorders are completely innaccurate descriptions of introverts. As an introvert I do suffer from these things to an extent but that is not the case with all introverts. Think about how many performers, artists, etc out there who are introverts. Introverts just deal with social things a little differently. Hence the reenergizing alone thing, more thoughtful conversations and the like.</p>
<p>I came across a website for introverts about common misconceptions about them. You should Google it. Interesting read. Made me realize more about myself.</p>
<p>Edit: <a href=“theintrovertadvantage.com”>theintrovertadvantage.com;
<p>Yes. Well said. Shyness ≠ introvert. There are plenty of extroverts who are extremely shy, as there plenty of introverts who are not shy at all. I’m an introvert and am not shy at all. I can speak to anyone without any awkwardness to get things done, but prefer to keep to myself on my free time. I’d even say I’m quite comfortable with public speaking.</p>
<p>Shyness is about being afraid, while introvertedness is about “drained.”</p>
<p>I’m an introvert, but if you’re meeting me, I’ll be very social. Most people won’t even guess that I’m an introvert. Yet, as an introvert, being social is a very draining task; I will need time alone even after a couple hours of socializing.</p>
<p>A shy person, on the other hand, can either be an introvert or extrovert, but won’t feel comfortable about being social. Once the shyness barrier is opened, it stays open.</p>
<p>A person who is introverted isn’t always shy. I’m both shy and introverted, but that’s just me. Oddly, I’m comfortable about singing in front of a crowd since I’ve been doing that ever since I was 5, but when it comes to introducing myself to new people or saying hi to people I know at school, I’m very shy.</p>
<p>And I’m very comfortable initiating long conversations with strangers. But if I speak to a group of 15 or more, my nervousness shows. (unless I know the people)</p>
<p>What is up with people’s fascination with other people’s social habits? There’s been about 3 dozen threads on this over the last few months I’ve been lurking.</p>
<p>I think that’s an accurate description, yeah. This difference is quite important, because I agree - the two do get confused.</p>
<p>What makes things complicated is often the shy person can become introverted I think, adapt to sustaining themselves with fewer friends than they would have preferred, etc.</p>
<p>It’s more along the lines of going to a party and then wanting to just stay in and rest the next day. Not even really a conscious decision, I certainly don’t think to myself “yeah I think tomorrow I’ll just stay in.” Whereas some people can party several days in a row.</p>
<p>That’s the right idea but generally a bit overdramatic.</p>
<p>Though I kind of doubt that the introvert/extrovert thing is a personality trait; it seems more likely to me that it is a reflection of social skills. Do human interactions only feel draining when you can’t entirely connect? I say this because I have never met someone who did not look energized after a good conversation that they got fully absorbed in. The draining interactions seem to be the ones that require conscious effort.</p>
<p>That’s the difference between introverts and extroverts: introverts need to take breaks from socializing, no matter how much they enjoy it. In contrast, extroverts take breaks by socializing.</p>
<p>I’d personally argue that most people on here (or reading this), including the very social ones, tend to be introverts. This is because the demands of college are unreasonably difficult for an extrovert to meet. Spending days studying or finishing projects drains extroverts like parties drain introverts.</p>
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<p>Personally speaking, I’ve been drained even when I fully connect. I just allow it to “drain” more than usual when it’s worth it. That said, after I’m done with one of those episodes, I typically don’t want to see another person for the entire next day; this even includes my closest friends – if anyone proposes to do anything with me that day, I’ll reschedule.</p>
<p>I also doubt that it is a personality trait, but I would say neither is it simply a reflection of social skills.</p>
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<p>It’s not that introverts can’t get energized by good conversations; they can. They just might like fewer fewer good conversations than an extrovert would. </p>
<p>But I think a lot of what introverts might feel drained from is all the other aspects to being around other people - not just the “good conversations” people have, but all the other things people talk about, and all the other ways people interact.</p>
<p>It’s an ‘attitude’ apparently</p>
<p>[Myers-Briggs</a> Type Indicator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“Extraversion and introversion - Wikipedia”>Extraversion and introversion - Wikipedia)</p>
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That’s my point. Some people seem to get fully absorbed in interactions all the time; others need to make more of a conscious effort to get through their day. I suspect that how much someone gets absorbed in an average conversation is strongly related to how introverted or extroverted they are; and furthermore, that how absorbed they get is strongly related to their social skills.</p>
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<p>This. Talking to other people in person is tiring for me. The problem is my brain doesn’t flow with conversations…I’m constantly thinking about hand movements, tone, expressions, etc. And then I’m having to worry about analyzing the other person’s. I also suck at making small talk. Badly.</p>
<p>Fortunately for interviews, paying attention to how you’re talking and not having to worry about a “conversation” isn’t too bad, so being introverted is helpful.</p>
<p>there is not a black-and-white separaion between introverts and extroverts, there are people who are obviously both, probably 99%, just one mor than the other in certain situations, I can turn off my shyness (How do you think I got through the Army?). anyway, my ucle is an extreme extrovert… he’s also a psychic vampire. he gets energy from external things (which is why he’s a drug addict). Introverts get energy internally. It’s the difference between cold blooded and warm blooded animals. Bur obviously, everyonae has a mix of both</p>
<p>I think being shy naturally leads towards introversion…I am shy and I’ve learned to appreciate being alone because it allows me to have a certain clarity of thought since I too overanalyze every little detail of social interaction.</p>
<p>Introversion is frowned upon at my university. It’s an unspoken rule that everyone has to act a certain way (talkative, bubbly, very friendly, completely open) and if your personality doesn’t match your classmates, they’ll give you a quizzical look. </p>
<p>But hey, that’s the University of Houston for you.</p>