Although an introvert may exhibit shyness, it’s important to note that being an introvert and being shy is not always the same. While a shy individual experiences discomfort, nervousness, bashfulness, timidity, insecurity, or self-consciousness in social situations, an introvert simply has a strong preference for silence and solitude as a personality trait. In her book “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” Susan Cain distinguishes shyness as the fear of negative judgment, which is not characteristic of most introverts. Instead, introverts are typically overstimulated by social interactions and seek quiet time to recharge their social energy. Sophia Dembling in her book The Introvert’s Way, “Introversion and Shyness get confused because both are related to socializing- but lack of interest in socializing is very clearly not the same as fearing it.”
The differences between introversion and shyness:
- A shy person is fearful while an introvert is uninterested
- Introverts express themselves easily when necessary while shy people can’t even when they have to
- Shy people do not often like solitude but introverts crave it
- Shyness is usually caused by low self-esteem, introversion is a personality trait
- Shyness is a weakness but introversion can be a strength