"Now, to see the bias clearly, you need to understand what introversion is. It's different from being shy. Shyness is about fear of social judgment. Introversion is more about, how do you respond to stimulation, including social stimulation. So extroverts really crave large amounts of stimulation, whereas introverts feel at their most alive and their most switched-on and their most capable when they're in quieter, more low-key environments. Not all the time -- these things aren't absolute -- but a lot of the time. So the key then to maximizing our talents is for us all to put ourselves in the zone of stimulation that is right for us".
- Susan Cain
- Susan Cain
Susan Cain’s presentation, “The Power of Introverts”, describes the modern day struggles for introverts in a world designed primarily for extroverts. Cain’s main point is that, in order for society to reach its full potential, it must understand that introverts and extroverts do not thrive under the same circumstances. The speaker uses ethos by recounting her childhood experiences, where she felt ashamed of who she was. This is evident when Cain claims that “I got the message that somehow my quiet and introverted style of being was not necessarily the right way to go, that I should be trying to pass as more of an extrovert. And I always sensed deep down that this was wrong and that introverts were pretty excellent just as they were. But for years I denied this intuition”. Cain relies on pathos a few times during her speech by using humorous remarks to illustrate her points. For instance, when discussing the contemporary psychology of group behavior, Cain states that, ”groups famously follow the opinions of the most dominant or charismatic person in the room, even though there's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas”. The speaker mostly relies on logos by using factual evidence to support her claims, such as when she states that “the vast majority of teachers reports believing that the ideal student is an extrovert as opposed to an introvert, even though introverts actually get better grades and are more knowledgeable, according to research”. Cain does many things well throughout her speech, such as sharing personal incidents that help the audience relate to her message.
“The Power of Introverts” relates to Stephen Chbosky's novel, Perks of Being a Wallflower, because portrays several introverted and socially awkward characters in an environment full of confident extroverts. The speech also relates to Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre, because the main character is a quiet introvert who struggles with communicating.
“The Power of Introverts” illustrates American Values such as individualism and change. The speaker sheds recognition on the uniqueness of both extroverts and introverts, and alludes to a need for more individual expression. The presentation relates to the American Dream by discussing the pursuit of social ideals pertaining to learning and working environments for different personality types. This reasoning is similar to that of the Global Dream because it also indicates a more positive impact upon all people, introverts included.
“The Power of Introverts” relates to Stephen Chbosky's novel, Perks of Being a Wallflower, because portrays several introverted and socially awkward characters in an environment full of confident extroverts. The speech also relates to Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre, because the main character is a quiet introvert who struggles with communicating.
“The Power of Introverts” illustrates American Values such as individualism and change. The speaker sheds recognition on the uniqueness of both extroverts and introverts, and alludes to a need for more individual expression. The presentation relates to the American Dream by discussing the pursuit of social ideals pertaining to learning and working environments for different personality types. This reasoning is similar to that of the Global Dream because it also indicates a more positive impact upon all people, introverts included.
Author's Notes
Susan Cain's presentation was intellectual and graceful. She was able to express her ideas using factual evidence while still entertaining the audience. I learned that we need to be more accepting of different personality types and how they work best.