{"id":56236,"date":"2018-05-07T18:43:06","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T02:43:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=56236"},"modified":"2018-05-07T18:43:06","modified_gmt":"2018-05-08T02:43:06","slug":"is-being-introverted-affecting-your-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/is-being-introverted-affecting-your-confidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Being Introverted Affecting Your Confidence?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We all know that the Big Five personality traits\u2014openness to experience, <\/b>conscientiousness<\/span>, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism\u2014are important personality-determinants. Their varying combination in each of us dictates why we evolve to become who we are.<\/p>\n

And up until recently, scientists believed that we can\u2019t do a single thing to change this. Or, as the saying goes \u201cit is what it is.\u201d But now, we\u2019ve been told that we can actually influence our Big 5s<\/a> and mend our personalities<\/a>\u2014for instance, we can become more extroverted or less neurotic.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s exciting news for us introverts out there. Although we may be generally happy with who we are, many also wouldn\u2019t mind having the option to boost our social skills now and then, when the situation calls for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

But these recent personality discoveries also raise a plethora of other questions. Such as\u2014if we can now influence our social aversion and quietness, will this perhaps help fix our confidence too?<\/span><\/p>\n

The answer, more often than not, is no. Let me explain why.<\/span><\/p>\n

So far, what we\u2019ve largely known about how personality affects our behavior, has implied the existence of an implicit connection\u2014that being an introvert may be somewhat of an obstacle toward building and maintaining confidence. Which, of course, may sound as a rather ludicrous idea at first glance, but sadly, it rings a familiar note with many.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Other research<\/a> has also fueled the alleged close friendship between introversion and low confidence, since high esteem individuals, scientists tell us, are often extraverted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to <\/span>Susan Cain and her wonderful book<\/a>, we now know that the distinction between the two personality types is largely one of nature\u2014i.e. how we re-charge ourselves. <\/em>That\u2019s all. One group is not<\/em> less attractive, less smart or valuable than the other. We just have different temperaments.<\/span><\/p>\n

But there seems to be still a rather wide-spread perception <\/em>that introversion somehow equates with lack of self-esteem, <\/em>despite much evidence to the contrary. The two terms are, of course, far from synonymous. Introverts are not insecure<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

A false causation is not overly hard to assume, though.<\/span><\/p>\n

People who lack confidence often exhibit similar behaviors to introverts\u2014such as, avoidance of the spotlight, the dread to be in front of large audiences or to socialize, the desire sometimes to be just left alone, along with the general tendency to being quiet and reserved. Despite certain commonalities, however, bridging the two notions can lead to rather unfavorable biases.<\/span><\/p>\n

We shouldn\u2019t blame our introversion for our lack of confidence<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Confidence (or lack of it) is a trait with its own merits. Studies have, indeed, shown that high self-esteem is tied to extroversion and the strength of this link is around 40{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c}. But for emotional stability<\/em>\u2014more of an introvert trait\u2014this percentage is between 50{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c} to over 70{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c} in some tests. <\/span><\/p>\n

Other research<\/a> has largely supported these results\u2014that confidence has a tighter bond with our inner balance than with our sociability skills. Thus, science tells us, high self-opinions are not<\/em> to be linked to extroversion by default. Low esteem is not the tag which should be automatically attached to introverts either.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A major thing to also grasp is that introversion is a personality trait<\/em>. As such, it\u2019s very challenging to change. A person with a low self-esteem, in contrast, can do plenty<\/em> to improve their circumstances, as low sense of worth isn\u2019t hard-coded in our genes as is introversion. <\/em>And luckily, this gives us a decently high likelihood of enhancing our confidence and influencing our outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, low confidence can make us more introverted<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

If we\u2019re to examine the other side of the spectrum\u2014are all individuals who lack self-confidence introverts\u2014the answer is frequently: yes. How so? It has largely to do with a psychology notion, known as the <\/span>\u201cinferiority complex.\u201d<\/a> It means \u201clack of self-worth, a doubt and uncertainty,\u201d and feelings of not measuring up to society’s standards.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s an intense emotion, which is characterized by episodes of aggressiveness (becoming over-competitive) or withdrawal into one\u2019s own world. And, psychologists tell us, the individuals who are in the most \u201chigh risk\u201d group of developing this disposition are the ones with low self-esteem. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

That is, if someone has low confidence, chances are, they will also suffer from an inferiority complex<\/i><\/strong> and vice versa. <\/i><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What\u2019s more\u2014because lack of self-esteem is often coupled with a desire to avoid the world as much as possible, it can also intensify our inwardness. Simply put, low sense of worth leads to higher introversion<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

However, it doesn\u2019t mean that a boost in confidence will automatically turn us into extroverts (and we probably don\u2019t want that either). But it can certainly make us a bit more \u201cblendable\u201d\u2014i.e. more socially introvert-y.<\/span><\/p>\n

It sounds like an appealing strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n

So how do we go about improving our future then?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the sometimes-grim outlook, mostly due to societal biases against both groups, individuals who are introverts and lack confidence aren\u2019t in some sort of a double trouble.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nothing of the kind. Although the extremes of these states may potentially lead to more serious conditions, many people lead more \u201cnormal\u201d lives by just being on the quiet side, and\/or having to work on their low self-esteem.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are steps we can undertake too, to be able to compete and even prosper in a non-equal opportunity world.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n