24 Jan Are Introverted American Youth at a Disadvantage in the Classroom and Socially?
There is considerable psychology behind introversion personality traits and how they influence mental health in the classroom and socially.
Psychologists and educators must consider introverted characteristics when treating and educating students in this group.
Personality traits of being introverted versus extroverted are among the oldest explored in personality theories. Myers-Briggs defines introverts as gaining “energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions in their minds.” Introverts often prefer doing things alone or with a small group of confidants. Introverts tend to be more reflective and must consider how to respond to situations before acting. This characteristic means that introverted children benefit from time to think about how to cope with problems and emotions.
The Center for Parenting Education identifies that introverted children commonly display the following traits:
*Prefer one-on-one communication
*Need time to think before answering a question
*Prefer not to share their emotions
*Learn better by observing
*Are quiet in large social gatherings
*Prefer watching an activity before choosing to join in
*Are highly self-aware
The American educational system can set introverted children at a disadvantage in the classroom. Teachers who do not understand the impact of introverted traits may inadvertently see these youth as unwilling to participate for not applying themselves to the learning. Group activity and classroom discussions set learning inequalities for students with these personality traits. Feedback to the student and their parents may be that they have flaws in their personality or dedication to their learning.
Socially, introverted youth can feel rejected and isolated from their peers. There is pressure in American culture to conform to extroverted traits. Introverts are often miscategorized as shy. However, they need social interactions just as much as the more socially outgoing individuals.
Research has found a correlation between introversion and low social engagement having an adverse impact on self esteem.