Introverts are smart and extroverts are dumb

[Chess]

I see this idea floating around a lot on the web. So the story goes, without introverts we wouldn't have the technology we have today. Without introverts, there would be no philosophy or deep thinking. Et cetera.

Honestly, it's pretty much a load of bull****.

Whether someone is an introvert or an extrovert doesn't determine whether or not they're intelligent, empathetic, understanding, etc. Tell that to my extroverted friend in mathematical research or the one who has years put into volunteer work with animals and the elderly, or the the introverts too small-minded to even hold their own in a discussion or debate. Introversion and extroversion defines whether people focus primarily on the external or internal world. It's not even black and white, but many shades of grey. Whether they shun intellectual pursuits in favor of binge drinking and trying to imitate the Jersey Shore life isn't measurable on that scale.

I notice that it's significantly more common in communities centered around social difficulties than in any other ones where there might be defined introverts and extroverts,which leads me to believe it's a case of sour grapes. Introverts and extroverts may have very different needs and communication styles, especially when you factor in things like social experience and problems they may be struggling with. Difficulties are understandable. However, some people seem to be convincing themselves and others that it's not just an emotional reaction - "I'm sure it's not that great, anyway" - it's fact. It even creates an us vs them mentality in some people, which further alienates them from others.

Also, it sounds painfully smug and condescending.

 

[MikeyC]

You said what I would've said. There's no correlation between extroversion and intelligence. It's all a bunch of crap.

 

[Steppen-Wolf]

As with any broad generalization it's simply not true.

 

[awkwardamanda]

You said what I would've said. There's no correlation between extroversion and intelligence. It's all a bunch of crap.

Actually, I don't think that's true. I remember reading somewhere that the proportion of introverts increases with IQ. If I get a chance I'll try and find some confirmation of that. For now, here's a brief quote from Wikipedia:

Conversely, while introversion is perceived as less socially desirable, it is strongly associated with positive traits such as intelligence and "giftedness."

That's not to say that all introverts are smart and all extraverts are dumb. It just means that introversion is more common among more intelligent people and less common among less intelligent people.

 

[Starry]

^ Yes, as with any stereotype, there is usually a solid base for the idea to develop from, it simply becomes a problem if it is overgeneralised and taken to be true for all/most members of a specific group...

You cannot say all members of X-group are like this and all members of Y-group are that. But it may be perfectly true to say that there is a greater likelihood that members of X-group will posses trait-A and members of y-group will posses trait-B...

 

[MikeyC]

Actually, I don't think that's true. I remember reading somewhere that the proportion of introverts increases with IQ. If I get a chance I'll try and find some confirmation of that. For now, here's a brief quote from Wikipedia:

That's not to say that all introverts are smart and all extraverts are dumb. It just means that introversion is more common among more intelligent people and less common among less intelligent people.

Perhaps, but casting the umbrella over all extroverts isn't really fair.

 

[Facethefear]

There are different ways to be smart and lots of ways to be dumb and introverts and extroverts are represented in both categories.

 

[Chess]

Actually, I don't think that's true. I remember reading somewhere that the proportion of introverts increases with IQ. If I get a chance I'll try and find some confirmation of that. For now, here's a brief quote from Wikipedia:

That's not to say that all introverts are smart and all extraverts are dumb. It just means that introversion is more common among more intelligent people and less common among less intelligent people.

I remember looking for actual data on intelligence among introverts and extroverts, too, but all I could find was the usual garble about who's dumb, who's smart, who's weird, who's boring, etc.

If anything I'd attribute a factual basis to introverts being more interested in alone time where they hone particular skills, and extroverts being more prone to be social where they don't hone the same skill set. Which doesn't mean that introverts do anything but watch YouTube during their alone time or that extroverts don't make time to study in a STEM field. I've read that the brain is able to change and rewire itself based on what people practice, and I'm unsure how much, if any, of that introvert/extrovert intelligence is innate.

The worst thing about the generalization is that it doesn't knock a few pegs out from under the extroverts who are loud and stupid, and it unfortunately gives even the small-minded introverts something to feel smug about. It doesn't address an actual problem (even though people are reacting to problems), which would be something like social anxiety or people who bully quiet kids, it just latches onto a convenient target for polarization.