'Introvert' isn't a dirty word, or a character flaw to be overcome

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It measured people’s personality under traits including “agreeableness verses antagonism”, “conscientiousness versus lack of direction”, “neuroticism versus emotional stability”, and “extroversion verses introversion”. Life as an introvert is rife with struggle: open-plan offices, teamwork, relentless after-work drink invitations, and the expectation that if you’re under the age of retirement you should spend your weekends in nightclubs. You feel as if you should enjoy small talk, that you shouldn’t think things through so much, or cringe when people share stories with the whole office. You shouldn’t feel secretly happy when plans with three people become two, or when someone texts you instead of ringing.