The Invisible Students in the Classroom: How to Include the Introverts Without Excluding the Extroverts

Abstract

This paper focuses mainly on the introverted and extroverted temperaments and how that affects an adolescent’s learning in school and their interaction in the world. There are many cultural misconceptions of introversion which are unknowingly perpetuated by school personnel, who are often extroverts. This argument also includes the fact that America praises the extrovert while diminishing the introvert, thusly preventing the introverted students from full academic achievement as well as restricting connection to their community. There is evidence in American history that the extroverted ideal was developed over time and originated from Dr. Carl Jung’s research on personality and the theory of introversion and extroversion. Research from modern scientists of psychology, temperaments, and personality are utilized including: Dr. Elaine Aron, Dr. Marti Olsen Laney, and Dr. Laurie Helgoe as well as contemporary authors Jonathan Rauch, Aneli Rufus, Susan Cain, and Sophia Dembling.