Idea-Introvert

"Often confused with shyness introversion does not imply social reticence or discomfort. Rather than being averse to social engagement, introverts become overwhelmed by too much of it, which explains why the introvert is ready to leave a party after an hour and the extravert gains steam as the night goes on."

"introverts are not driven to seek big hits of positive emotional arousal—they'd rather find meaning than bliss—making them relatively immune to the search for happiness that permeates contemporary American culture. In fact, the cultural emphasis on happiness may actually threaten their mental health. As American life becomes increasingly competitive and aggressive, to say nothing of blindingly fast, the pressures to produce on demand, be a team player, and make snap decisions cut introverts off from their inner power source, leaving them stressed and depleted. Introverts today face one overarching challenge—not to feel like misfits in their own culture."

"Like individuals, cultures have different styles. America is a noisy culture, unlike, say, Finland, which values silence. Individualism, dominant in the U.S. and Germany, promotes the direct, fast-paced style of communication associated with extraversion. Collectivistic societies, such as those in East Asia, value privacy and restraint, qualities more characteristic of introverts"

-all quotes from Revenge of the Introvert, see bibliography below

My project is so heavily based on psychology that I feel I am limiting myself too much by trying to narrow it down to just one emotion or way of thinking. I wanted to branch out a little bit and explore other aspects of psychology that could promote or inhibit self sufficiency and happiness. The first time I read this article I had a classic 'ah-ha' moment. being an introvert has a lot to do with how I react to the world around me and how it reacts to me. I hadn't originally made this connection to my current concept but introversion has a lot to do with the struggle to independently create happiness without validation from others. It looks like I am getting closer to more intensely personal concept than I thought. While I am still dealing with issue most people can relate to, especially at my age, I might be more successful to be more specific on my own feelings about the work. 

Bibliography:

Helgoe, Laurie. "Revenge of the Introvert." Psychology Today. 1 Sept. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010.

This article describes the qualities of an introverted personality type. It uses examples from social situations and comparisons with extroverted personality types. It explains why introverts may be misunderstood by extroverts and why it's okay to be either type. 

Thobias Faldt- from the series "After the Disaster"