Introverts and Extroverts

I just finished reading a book about introverts (Quiet by Susan Cain) that really has nothing to do with people with intellectual disabilities. Yet in an effort to look at us all as humans who are equal in dignity, I like to incorporate the things I read to this end. Even if books aren't specifically about disabilities, the principles can still be applied.

Rather than thinking that people with disabilities are not normal or are 'special', I think we would be better thinking we are all just humans, all with similar yet individualized tendencies and needs.The ideas from this book about introverts can certainly apply to the people I know with intellectual disabilities.

The simplified definition of an introvert is one who is energized by time spent away from people. An extrovert, then, is someone who is energized by spending time with others. I admit that I have never thought of the individuals whom I work with in this way, nor have I thought of my daughter as an introvert or extrovert. After a long day at her day habilitation program, she has to unwind alone in her bedroom. I figured that was an autistic thing, maybe a way to cope with transition. What if it is because she is an introvert?

According to Cain, there is more to it. An introvert is prone to over-arousal and an extrovert is prone to under-arousal. It's not just about a reaction to people in our lives but stimulation, too.  An introvert is sensitive to new stimuli and will seek breaks; an extrovert is sensitive to boredom and will seek activity.

This could explain a lot when working with people with cognitive disabilities. Is introversion the reason an individual seeks a bathroom several times during a volunteer activity even though we know she doesn't have to go? Is extroversion the reason some people seem 'antsy' when we are encouraging them to sit quietly and focus on a craft project or when there is nothing to do on the weekends? Are some of the behavioral concerns we see actually an effort to adjust themselves due to their introversion or extroversion tendencies? This would mean, whether it is convenient for us or not, we might have to offer more downtime to introverts and more activities and novelty to people who are extroverts. We might have to accept that they are who they are despite what we want them to be. Maybe the introverts really need to spend a few hours alone in their bedroom and we don't need to worry that they are depressed. And maybe the extroverts really need us to fill their schedules with fun and new activities. Cain says if we don't, the introverts will feel overwhelmed and fuzzy-headed until they get their break and the extroverts will feel restless as if they had cabin fever until offered something stimulating.

If one-third to one-half of humans are introverted, doesn't that mean all humans?