Extroverts, Introverts Face Difficulties During Social Distancing

It took Viktery Zimmerman only two days to find ways to connect with friends and family. She and her husband are stuck inside their home in Chicago, Illinois, as ordered by the state's stay-at-home measure.

There are the FaceTime video calls. There is the movie night with friends who are also stuck at home. There are plans for a game night. Viktery will do whatever is necessary to keep her from, as she puts it, "spinning in circles."

She describes herself as an extrovert¹ -- someone who likes being with and talking to other people. Her husband, Justin Zimmerman, is an introvert². In other words, he is quieter and needs more alone time than his wife.

He laughs at their differences in personalities³. "Now it's become a thing where people are FaceTiming us all day, every day to say ‘Hi,'" he said. "I'm like, ‘You really don't have to.'"

Most Americans and many other people around the world are following stay-at-home orders designed to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The crisis⁴ has led to many changes — including how and when people have social exchanges.

The changes to daily life have affected⁵ extroverts⁶ and introverts⁷ in different ways. They may come as a release of pressure for some introverts who no longer must explain why they do not want to take part in social activities. Extroverts, however, are left seeking out social connection in a world where that is suddenly limited.

Eric Bellmore considers himself an extrovert. He found himself shouting a hello to someone he did not know when he went for a run near his home in the state of Michigan. He just wanted a chance to speak with someone.

Bellmore said, "It's mind-boggling to grasp how much I need to be around other folk."

But, social distancing has been a more pleasant change for David Choi, a Los Angeles musician who describes himself as introverted. His profession often requires him to be networking – attending social events and meeting new people in the hopes of getting professional help.

The order restricting movement, he says, "gives you an excuse to stay home, which is what you want to do in the first place."

The world generally has been a place where extroverts are rewarded and introverts are judged, says Lisa Kaenzig. She is a top administrator⁸ at William Smith College in New York and very much an extrovert. But she has studied introverted learners for years.

Kaenzig says everyone might share in the fear and worry over the virus. But she says most of the introverts she has spoken to report that the limited social activity has been good for them.

"All of the things that make the world harder for them as introverts, the world is better for them right now. They're adapting much more quickly," she says.

Some introverts, however, may struggle with the idea that staying home is an issue of government demand. It is no longer possible to visit a restaurant or coffee place when they do want to connect with people.

Jackie Aina of Buffalo⁹, New York, would often do just that when she was working from home.

"Now that control is being taken away," she says. "That's very different than choosing when and how you get to stay at home."

Words in This Story

spin - v. to turn or cause someone or something to turn around repeatedly

personality - n. the set of emotional qualities, ways of behaving, etc., that makes a person different from other people

mind-boggling - adj. having a very powerful or overwhelming¹⁰ effect on the mind

grasp - v. to understand (something that is complicated or difficult)

folk - n. people in general

reward - v. to give money or another kind of payment to (someone or something) for something good that has been done

1 extrovert   

n.性格外向的人

参考例句：

• A good salesman is usually an extrovert,who likes to mingle with people.一个好的推销员通常很外向，喜欢和人们交往。
• Do you think you're an extrovert or introvert?你认为你是个性外向的人还是个性内向的人？

2 introvert   

n.性格内向的人

参考例句：

• You are very much an introvert.你是一位地道的内向性格者。
• The same conversation that energizes the extravert also drains the introvert.同样的交谈能让外向者荣光焕发，却让内向者精神颓靡。

3 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

4 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 extroverts   

性格外向的人( extrovert的名词复数 )； 活跃、愉快、爱交际的人

参考例句：

• In the second half, the students were criticized. Extroverts were unfazed. 在后半部分，举不动时学生要受批评，外向性格的学生表现出不满。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 大脑与疾病
• Extroverts prefer lively conversation to brooding on the meaning of life. 性格外向的人喜欢高谈阔论，而不愿思索人生的意义。

7 introverts   

性格内向的人( introvert的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Extroverts tend to lack self-discipline while introverts lack courage. 性格外向的人缺乏自我约束力，而性格内向的人则缺乏勇气。
• I an introvert and introverts get drawn in. 我是个内向的人而且内向是天生的。

8 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

9 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

10 overwhelming   

adj.势不可挡的，压倒的，无法抵抗的

参考例句：

• The flood was overwhelming and the city was soon drowned.洪水来势凶猛，很快这个城市就被淹没了。
• The act was adopted by an overwhelming majority.该法案以压倒多数通过。