What is your thriving environment? Are you tucked in your room with a book, with only the words and pages you scan keeping you company? Are you at a party, laughing and dancing with your friends without a care in the world? Or maybe you’re heading somewhere new, waiting to meet and mingle with people you’ve never met before. 

Many individuals in today’s society underestimate how interactions and communication affect us. But, think about it. Everything you do—from sending emails, to talking with your friends and family, to giving speeches, and even engaging in your hobbies and passion—has to do with your effort to socialize. Through the observance of these interactions, we have divided our world into dual roles of the introvert—the shy and reserved— and the extrovert—the exuberant and sociable. 

So, why is it that some people simply love socializing and others prefer keeping to themselves? And where do these behavioral wills come from?

From a scientific perspective, the differentiating characteristics that determine the introvert and extrovert, lie in neurotransmitters, brain structure, and genetics. The amygdala, which is the part of the brain responsible for processing emotions, is more reactive when it comes to introverts, while the dopamine reward system in the brain is more active in extroverts. The amygdala is built to favor shyness, fear, more reserved emotions, and supports the average introvert’s need for alone time and quiet. Extroverts’ higher “threshold” for dopamine make them more willing to talk with other people and be in social environments as they get constant rushes of it with social interaction. 

This begs the question, is there a preferable personality type? Many suggest that introverted people tend to be independent learners and are more resourceful as they only work to stay by themselves. However, studies show that outgoing socialization comes with many benefits as well. Strong social skills have been associated with an increased sense of self-esteem, as well as a more defined sense of purpose, allowing for an increase in both mental and physical health. Strong socialization skills can result in an alleviation of isolation and loneliness, given that extroverted people are more likely to share their struggles and open up to others. On the contrary, introverts also have been associated with cautiousness, making them more well-planned and careful individuals. Studies have shown that introverts’ observant qualities connect to their empathetic qualities, making them kind and thoughtful individuals. Their think-before-you-speak nature also connects to them being well-liked, based on how they communicate and interact with others. Both qualities in introverts and extroverts overall allow them to be reliable people to build strong and withstanding relationships with.

In fact, strong social connections are often linked to easier recovery of health issues due to the sense of comfort and security that is provided. The more reserved nature of introverts allow for less impulsive thought from the brain, and can overall lead to a decreased risk of accident-prone injuries. Likewise, the sociable nature of an extrovert is known to increase immune and cardiovascular health overall. 

All in all, each side of the introverted and extroverted worlds have peculiarities and benefits of their own. Whether you prefer the presence of your own thoughts, or would rather be in the company of others, each of these worlds have their own perks, and they both allow for their own special types of relationships and happiness.