Society & Politics

Difference between Shyness and Introversion?

I've been noticing a lot of people labeling a guy or girl as shy and unsociable when in reality it can be a very distinctive feature between being shy and being an introvert...so I'll talk about briefly about the differences not how to overcome that will come later in another take.


You know the feeling – the one where you see a group of people laughing about a movie you love or getting excited about an overseas location that you know like the back of your hand.


But there you are, standing on the outskirts of the group. Maybe you have a drink in your hand. Maybe you have your hands in your pockets. Maybe you have you arms crossed. Whatever the case may be, you feel intimidated, uneasy, and possibly even scared about the situation at hand.


You want to be a part of the fun. You know you have something to offer. But the prospect of approaching new people – or worse, approaching that beautiful girl across the room – is much too daunting for your brain to grasp. So you sit there. Doing nothing. Feeling awkward. And then you go home, not making a splash – not even making a ripple.


And you wonder to yourself: “Will things always be like this? Will I ever overcome my shyness and actually connect with people?”


Difference between Shyness and Introversion!!?


Please forgive the cheesy Taylor Swift picture :D


Shyness vs. Introversion


Today I want to focus on the important distinction between being shy and being introverted. Being shy is very different from being introverted. Being introverted means that you just draw your energy and recharge your batteries from smaller social situations or by yourself. But, if you’re put in a social situation, you can still converse and interact with the same level of efficacy as anyone else.


And as an introvert you may feel some social jitters at first, but usually you can ease your way into a social interaction. This is why I describe myself as an introvert. I love spending time with people, and I usually have little problem chatting up strangers – especially if I’m working up my social momentum. However, I always reach an inevitable point where I get “socially exhausted” and I need to go be by myself for a while or just have a conversation with a good friend in a low-key setting.


On the other hand, people who are shy have a fear of social interaction or social judgment. People who are shy feel anywhere from uneasy to downright crippled when they are put in a situation where they have to interact with strangers. They often keep to themselves and are really quiet in most cases.


And thus, the difference between introversion and shyness is an important one. You can be introverted and not be shy (like me), but I think that most people who are shy are also introverted.


Being Shy is not a “Defect”


It’s also important to mention that there isn’t something inherently wrong with being shy. Being shy is not some sort of defect; it’s just a natural affection of certain people. Some shy people I know are some of the warmest, sweetest people I’ve ever met. You just have to ease them into a sense of comfort or trust before you find out about the deep details of their life.


And I’ve even known girls who like a bit of shyness in their men. Women do have a fantasy about finding a guy who is the strong, silent type, and then being the one who is able to win him over.


So just like introversion vs. extroversion, being shy isn’t something to be ashamed of by any means.

Difference between Shyness and Introversion?
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