Yes. Exactly.

If the teacher claims that they need the input from all the students, then I consider it the responsibility of the this teacher to *call upon* those who are quiet. NO, it’s not the responsibility of the quiet students to interrupt, shout over, and dominate the other students. It is the responsibility of the teacher to control the classroom.

When the teacher blames the quiet students for not talking when the aggressive students are dominating all discussion by shouting down the other students, then to me it’s a clear indication that the teacher is failing in their duties.

Perhaps we need to teach extroverts to slow down in their rush to talk, pushing the introverts out of the discussion. I like to reflect on a matter and form my thoughts before blurting out. If I am understood to be the expert on the matter under discussion, no problem — either I need less time to reflect (as I already know my thoughts) or others naturally are looking to me for my input. In other situations, particularly in larger groups where extroverts are dominating, talking over everyone, by the time I have my well-formed thought ready, the topic has moved on, or the extroverts don’t allow another voice to join in.

Just as you suggest introverts need to “get more comfortable with [speaking up]”, I suggest that extroverts also need to get more comfortable with giving the introverts time and opportunity to participate. They might benefit from a more thought-out response.

This article does have a good point that it’s not fair, appropriate or healthy to force empty meaningless “participation” on the more thoughtful members of a group. Most of these groups have highly dysfunctional norms. The whole thing about children raising their hands and shouting “Pick Me! Pick Me!” is dysfunctional.

Yes, I’m a strong introvert. Even to this day. And I have 55 years of life experience to back up my opinions. Still, to this day, I am often criticized for being “unable to speak” in meetings where others are “dominating the discussion” by filling the air time — often with largely meaningless words. But I am also a consistently award winning Toastmasters speaker. When I am allowed to speak, I typically do have valuable well thought out contributions to make.

We do not just have “introvert problems.” We have problems of social interactions where domination of others and a lack of listening skills are rewarded. I have attended many meetings where a person “attempting to find solutions to their problems” dominates the meeting by lecturing and interrupting every other person who attempts to contribute. Often, it seems that they have a different agenda and goals than what one might assume. Some of their real goals may be dysfunctional, to them, and possibly their organization.

Fortunately for me, I often have information that other people need. I interrupt only enough to let people know that I have information they need. And then I let them learn to resolve their internal conflicts between their feelings of need to dominate all conversation with constant talking, and their need to exercise a few listening skills, to be able to receive the information they need from me. It’s often an educational exercise. And as such, it can often by uncomfortable or even unpleasant for some of the participants — including myself and others. But, over time, improving our “health” and mutual respect in these interactions can be quite valuable.

I’m sorry, but you’re just wrong on this. There is almost never an inciting incident resulting in a person’s introversion, or extraversion. I am a very strong introvert and my growing-up circumstances were very different from yours (big family, popular in school, etc). And while we’re all shaped by our circumstances, we are fundamentally who we are, and can learn to make that an asset or not. I didn’t and don’t need to be fixed.

Agreed!!

Bravo!!