Dr. Hans Eysenck
Here’s an interesting idea that I haven’t heard before, courtesy of Dr. Hans Eysenck: introverts have more cortical activity than extraverts. Ergo introvert brains are already full up, which is why we avoid external stimuli. Extraverts, on the other hand, have empty brains … oh, all right, have less cortical activity, which is why they seek stimulus outside of themselves.
Dr. Hans Eysenck (1916-1997) was a popular biology-personality doctor a few decades ago. His books include The Biological Basis of Personality, Know Your Own IQ, Crime and Personality, and The Psychology of Politics.
Some great thinkers get stuck in their own theories, which can separate them from their peers. (Freud comes to mind.) Eysenck accepted only pure science. He rejected Jung and Meyers-Briggs.
To my mind, Jung and Eysenck dovetail nicely, though I’m not sure either of them would be pleased to hear it. Unfortunately, that leaves me with a chicken-and-egg problem. Does higher cortical activity cause introversion, or is it the other way around?
Whatever the answer may be, I enjoy this cortical aspect of introversion. I look forward to the day when I can refer to my personality as Super Cortical, or even Mach I Cortical. Maybe I’ll be able to turn down invitations without offending anyone, since my cortex is all booked up and it’s not my fault.
I have another observation. Introverts, like most people, like to hear about things that are flattering to them.
I agree that introverts must have more cortical activity than extroverts, which is why they are sensitive to external stimuli. This may or may not be a good thing; what if the cortical activity is a useless internal dialogue, such as worry, anxiety etc. Catch my drift? I do think that a higher cortical activity is the cause for introversion, however.
@Cassandra – I don’t think that the internal dialogue is all worry and fretting. We just spend much, much more time than extroverts analyzing, planning, comparing, and pondering. It’s one of our innate gifts to be able to do this. To me, worry is something that both extroverts and introverts do well.
I do like the idea of being able to turn down an invitation because “my cortex is busy” that day.
I have always thought something was wrong with me, as I seem unwilling to be in a crowded place such as a party. Everyone assumed I was shy, but I find being in a large group causes me to be anxious. It is nice to know that I am probably an introvert and Im not “odd” because I tend to navigate away from group situations.
I am easily hurt and have made some headway on that one, but rejection is one of the things that truly upsets me. Maybe I should be happy that I am this way? I remember not playing with other children in kindergarten. I kind of stood away from everyone and was angry that my mom left me there!
Liz
[...] inner balance. The inner workings of an introvert’s brain are very busy. Studies show that introvert’s brains are more active than extrovert’s. Inner stimulation added to intense outer stimulation leads to overload and [...]