TOW #3- Introvert Power

In typical American society today, extroversion is favored over introversion. Extroverts are viewed as more successful because they are considered outgoing, popular, and adventurous. While an introvert may still have these qualities, they are viewed as less successful since they would like to be on their own sometimes. This is all explained in Introvert Power, by Laurie Helgoe. Introversion, personality and desire, are Helgoe’s speciality in her writing and psychology. She wrote this book to go against the norms and explain that introversion is ok. Each section of the book is teaching introverts, or extroverts who would like to understand, different aspects of being an introvert, why it is frowned upon in society, and why it really is a gift to those who are introverted. To prove this Helgoe explains many different scientific studies. One she cited was done by Maya Tamir, director of the Emotion and Self-Regulation Laboratory at Boston College and Hebrew University. The study had different extroverts and introverts try to complete an “effortful task.” in their efforts, the extroverts tried to make it more enjoyable. For the introverts, trying to seek happiness made completing the task harder and so they tried to avoid any emotional stimulation. Although this may seem like a bad thing, it showed that the introverts in this study were more likely to complete their task faster or more efficiently. Helgoe also used personal narratives to explain that introversion is not a bad thing. She explains a feeling that is probably very relatable to every introvert. After a long day she goes to dinner with a few of her friends, “the women were exuberant, excited, and exhausting...I kind of wanted what they were having. They seemed to be having so much fun!...What was wrong with me? I wasn’t sharing any of these good feelings!” (73 helgoe). After the anecdote, she explains that this is a normal feeling. She creates a sense of belonging to every introvert who feels they are broken. I believe her purpose was achieved in this book so far. I had always wanted to be extroverted because that seemed better and easier, but now I’m not afraid to be who I am.