Donal Buckley, the LoneSwimmer blogger, talked about the characteristics of introverts based on a book entitled The Introvert Advantage (How To Thrive in an Extrovert World) by Marti Laney, Psy.D.

In her book, Marti Laney, Psy.D. explains about common misconceptions about introverts.

Specifically, introverts are considered:

– Party Poopers
– Unfriendly
– Nerds
– Lacking Social Skills
– Won’t Talk
– Don’t Like People
– Withdrawn
– Loner
– Shy
– Hermit

But Marti explains the advantages that introverts possess that counter these misconceptions:

– Work Well With Others, Especially In One-to-One Relationships
– Maintain Long-Term Friendships
– Flexible
– Independent
– Strong Ability To Concentrate
– Self-Reflective
– Responsible
– Creative, Out-of-the-Box thinking
– Analytical Skills That Integrate Complexity
– Studious and Smart

As the Daily News of Open Water Swimming interviews and researchers open water swimmers, it is our observation that those characteristics and qualities of introverts are commonly possessed by the swimming community.

We ponder the following questions:

1. Do open water swimmers tend to be introverts or extroverts?
2. Do female open water swimmers tend to be more introverted than extroverted?
3. Do male open water swimmers tend to be more introverted than extroverted?
4. Are open water swimmers be introverted in the water and extroverted out of the water?
5. Does open water swimming attract introverts – or does open water swimming bring out the introvertness in a swimmer – or does open water swimming help temper one’s extrovertness?

You can answer these questions in a poll on the Daily News of Open Water Swimming. Share your opinions. Send us your observations. Email us about examples of swimmers who are introverts and swimmers who are extroverts.

Donal pointed out the comments of Carl King on this topic here that makes additional points that could be easily applied to open water swimmers as they enjoy the solitude of their sport in the oceans, bay, lakes and rivers around the world, alone in their thoughts taking one stroke at a time.

Copyright © 2011 by World Open Water Swimming Association