10 Kickass Facts About Introverts

9. Introversion Could Be Genetic

One of the most kickass facts about introverts is that it might actually be genetic. This would explain why it’s almost impossible to convince an introvert to engage in a highly social setting, no matter how much coaxing, begging, or bribery you resort to. It’s not a choice for them. It’s hardwired into their DNA. Part of this evidence comes from the aforementioned study about dopamine release. The study also measured the allele responsible for the dopamine release related to extroverts. What they found confirmed that this is actually genetic, meaning that whether you are introverted or extroverted could have been determined way back when your fetus is just 4 months old. Another study which looked into this was conducted by David Owen and Jacob Sines, and was published in Behavior Genetics in 1970. What they found was that “these results provide additional support for the heritability of inhibition, social introversion-extraversion, or other-person orientation.”