The Power of Quiet

The Power of Quiet

If someone labeled you an “introvert,” how would it make you feel?

Judging from research on social desirability, most of us would prefer to be labeled extroverts. Normal distributions being what they are, however, half the world is more introverted than average. Earlier in the chapter, we discussed the upside of introversion, but in many ways, it’s an extrovert’s world. So says Susan Cain, in her bestselling book,Quiet.

In the book, Susan Cain makes three arguments:

1. We see ourselves as extraverts. Introversion is generally seen as undesirable, partly because extraverts like being in charge and are more apt to shape environments to fit their wishes. “Many of the most important institutions of contemporary life are designed for those who enjoy group projects and high levels of stimulation.”

2. Introversion is driven underground. Thanks to social norms and structures, introverts often are forced to be “closet introverts”—acting according to an extraverted ideal, even if that is not their personality at heart. Think about it. If someone comments, “You’re awfully quiet,” they nearly always assume an underlying problem, as if not being quiet is the norm.

3. Extraversion is not all it’s cracked up to be. Because introversion is suppressed, we cause the introverts of the world distress and fail to capitalize on the many virtues of introversion. We may overlook the quiet, thoughtful introvert when choosing a leader, we may quell creativity by doing most of our work in groups, and we may mistake appearance for reality. (“Don’t mistake assertiveness or eloquence for good ideas,” Suzan writes.) Society may unwittingly push people to take risks more than is warranted, to act before they think, and to focus on short-term rewards above all else.

Susan Cain is not anti-extravert. She simply thinks we should encourage people to be who they truly are, and that means valuing extraversion and introversion. She concludes, “The next...