5 Signs You’re An Introvert, Not “Antisocial”
Channel: Psych2Go
Date: 2022-09-08

Many of us are often mislabelled as “antisocial” when we prefer staying at home rather than accepting our friends’ invitation for a day out. Like many other psychological concepts and terms, “antisocial” is often misused in everyday conversation. 

Rather than calling people who are declining to engage or incapable of engaging in social interaction “antisocial”, the more proper term would be “asocial”. Silvi Saxena, a licensed social worker and certified clinical trauma professional, explained that “asocial” means feeling or being isolated from others, while antisocial behaviours are linked to antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). 

Similarly, introverts are often lumped in with antisocial people. Many defining characteristics can distinguish between introversion and antisocial. With that said, let’s take a look at the signs you’re an introvert, not “antisocial”: 

We also made a video on the signs you're an NOT an introvert, but a wounded extrovert: https://youtu.be/aVYUKIe1_UM

Writer: Syazwana Amirah  
Script Editor: Rida Batool 
Script Manager: Kelly Soong 
Voice: Amanda Silvera  
Animator: Hannah Roldan 
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong   

REFERENCES 

APA Dictionary of Psychology. Dictionary.apa.org. (2022). Retrieved from www.dictionary.apa.org/antisocial.

APA Dictionary of Psychology. Dictionary.apa.org. (2022). Retrieved from www.dictionary.apa.org/introversion.

Cabello, R., & Fernandez-Berrocal, P. (2015). Under which conditions can introverts achieve happiness? Mediation and moderation effects of the quality of social relationships and emotion regulation ability on happiness. PeerJ, 3, e1300.

Cain, S. (2013). Quiet: The Power of Introverts in A World That Can’t Stop Talking. Broadway Paperbacks.

Granneman, J. (2022). Why Do Introverts Love Being Alone? Here’s the Science. IntrovertDear.com. Retrieved from www.introvertdear.com/news/introverts-alone-time-science-marti-olsen-laney/.

Saxena, S., & Sookdeo, T. (2022). Asocial vs. Antisocial Behavior: Understanding the Differences. Choosing Therapy. Retrieved from www.choosingtherapy.com/asocial-vs-antisocial/.