Realizations Inc

©Arlene R. Taylor PhD           Realizations Inc

Present culture presently rewards two ambiverted positions on the EAI Continuum (see shaded areas below). This means that more than half the population generally remains unrewarded by society in relation to their innate position on the EAI Continuum. Understanding this can help those who fall outside these two positions to recognize the artificial nature of societal rewards, and can give them the opportunity to identify, honor, and affirm themselves.

Many cultures deal rather ineffectively with both extremes on the EAI Continuum. Extremely extraverted children are often punished and/or medicated in an effort to dampen their stimulation-seeking behaviors. Extremely introverted children may be pushed toward competition and/or punished for a perceived lack of participation. In adulthood, extremely extraverted males may get by easier than extremely extraverted females (who may be perceived as too "out there" or not feminine enough). On the other hand, extremely introverted females may get by in society more easily than extremely introverted males, perhaps because females are typically not encouraged to be as assertive or as aggressive as are males.

In Europe during the middle ages, introversion was generally valued over extraversion. Highly introverted individuals often entered one of the religious orders, especially if they also possessed a harmonizing brain lead. It was considered a high honor to be removed from the bustle of materialism. In these protected environments extreme introverts found solitude and found validation for their abilities to study, nurture others as caregivers, and write or compose. Some also found that the protected environment was conducive to developing a spiritual connection with a Higher Power.

As the shift toward industrialization occurred in society, extraversion came to be more highly valued, rewarded, and encouraged. At times extraversion has been rewarded almost to the point of devaluing introversion. This is unfortunate because the entire EAI Continuum represents natural brain phenomena.