Psychology says true introverts don't hate people - they hate the performance of people, the small talk that circles the runway and never lands - Silicon Canals

"That feeling, that specific exhaustion, is something I've been trying to articulate for years. Because it's not misanthropy. It's not social anxiety in the clinical sense. It's not even introversion the way most people use the word. It's something more precise."

"The research is often called the STAR model, and one thing it makes clear is that introverts are rarely 'people haters' in the cartoon sense. Many score low on anxious introversion entirely. They don't fear people. They just filter them differently."

"What drains them is the opposite of what they enjoy. They adore their tight circle and can engage deeply on topics that matter, but superficial interactions leave them feeling exhausted."

A rooftop bar encounter reveals the exhaustion of social performances among introverts. This feeling is distinct from social anxiety or misanthropy. Psychology research, particularly the STAR model by Jonathan Cheek, identifies four types of introversion. Many introverts enjoy deep connections but find superficial interactions draining. They filter social experiences differently, preferring meaningful conversations over small talk, which can feel like a performance without substance.

Read at Silicon Canals