So what things actually drive introverts? For her book The Secret Lives of Introverts, Jenn Granneman consulted with psychology professor Colin DeYoung. He pointed out that introverts seek different rewards than extroverts. The driving force behind an extrovert's behavior is money, social status, promotions, food, social connections, and physical intimacy. For an introvert, all that may sound exhausting.
Introverts crave social connections just like extroverts. But instead of being in a room buzzing with people, introverts find it most rewarding to be one-on-one with a friend or a romantic partner. As DeYoung explained to Granneman, extroverts have a more active dopamine reward system. That's why they don't get so tired after having conversations with people; their battery literally keeps recharging.
Introverts, in turn, need less dopamine and can quickly become overstimulated by it. Dr. Marti Olsen Laney has proposed a theory that introverts use a different brain pathway to feel stimulated. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine activates receptors that are responsible for learning, memory, and the ability to stay calm and alert. Acetylcholine helps introverts feel more happiness when doing inward-focused activities and engaging in quiet hobbies.
But what about our introverted Pandas? Do you think these pictures represent you well? Let us know your favorite thing about being an introvert in the comments! And if you're looking for more relatable content about introversion, check out more memes from the "Introverts Are Awesome" page right here!
