11 Things All Introverts Should Know

3. It is not the same as being shy.

“Some people still equate introvert and shy, and that’s just definitely, empirically not true,” says Cheek.

During his master’s thesis research, Cheek found that being shy, being sociable, and being introspective were all independent things. People could be shy but still have a great need for social interaction, or they could be introspective without being the least bit shy.

Shyness does overlap with one particular kind of introversion: anxious introversion. “A shy person may or may not be this kind of introspective, self-reflective, rich inner-life kind of person,” says Cheek. “However, they will have anxious thoughts.”

The key takeaway here is: If someone tells you they’re an introvert, don’t assume that means they’re shy.

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