HOW AN INTROVERT CAN BE HAPPIER : ACT LIKE AN EXTROVERT

Extroverts are generally happier, studies show. And research shows introverts feel happier when they act extroverted.

By: Sumathi Reddy

Published: The Wall Street Journal; July 23, 2013; http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324144304578621951399427408

Level of Difficulty: **

BEFORE YOU READ

Before you start tackling the reading task it would be a good idea to revise what you know about the two attitudes. To do so, study the following presentation:

• Introversion and extroversion power point: https://prezi.com/jo6cjhyurvwv/introverts-and-extroverts/

Now that you have a better understanding of what the terms mean, take the following tests to discover where you stand and how happy you feel:

• Extroversion introversion test: http://psychologytoday.tests.psychtests.com/take_test.php?idRegTest=1311
• Happiness test: http://psychologytoday.tests.psychtests.com/take_test.php?idRegTest=1320

QUESTIONS

1.       Read the first two paragraphs of the text and decide:

·         Which sentence can be deleted

·         Whether the paragraph division is appropriate

2.       Acting like an extrovert makes the introvert happier because

·         He is more honest about himself

·         He forms a bond with others

·         He feels a sense of achievement

·         He is more social

·         All of the above

·         None of the above

·         Other please specify

3.       There is a basic biological reason why extroverts are more motivated: their increased………………………………………………………………………………………………

4.       Mr. Powell disagrees with the above biological explanation for greater all round well being enjoyed by extroverts his sources of happiness are simply more varied/different/simpler/more complex.

5.       One basic difference between extroverts and introverts is their degree of…………………………..

6.       Earlier life experiences have a greater effect on determining how introverted or extroverted one later becomes because…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7.       Despite the fact that it has been proved that acting more like an extrovert increases happiness, introverts refuse to try this because

·         They correctly predict the final outcome

·         They misjudge the final outcome

·         They feel embarrassed and anxious

8.       The reason for the surprising results reached in Dr. Zelensky’s experiment is the fact that ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

9.       The reason for Dr. Little’s behavior during breaks at conferences I his need to……………………so  as to be able to focus during the rest of the conference to the best of his abilities.

10.   What is the basic shortcoming of research into extroverts and introverts carried out thus far? They don’t take into account

·         Individual differences

·         Political differences

·         Cultural differences

·         Psychological differences

11.   Introverts are stated to be better at ……………………………………………………………………………..

WRITING TASK

First alternative:

Having studied the text carefully and annotated it, write a summary. This is a challenging summary task as it will require reorganization on a grand scale. Check out the examples on this blog if you need help.

Second alternative:

Watch the video below and write an argumentative essay on the following subject: Is it really better to be an extrovert?

“The power of introverts” http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts

HOW AN INTROVERT CAN BE HAPPIER: ACT LIKE AN EXTROVERT KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This wonderful comparison on quite a hackneyed topic does come up with a whole lot of interesting information that comes as a surprise. The text also lends itself to some good multiple choice questions which fact might help you familiarize students with them and show them how to tackle them.

1.       The first sentence of paragraph two can be eliminated; the section could be one paragraph instead of two.

2.       All of the above

3.       Sensitivity to dopamine

4.       Different

5.       Interaction with other people

6.       That is when the connectivity between neurons is being established

7.       The second

8.       Acting out of character can take a physiological toll on the nervous or immune systems

9.       Emotionally recharge; to escape from the vicissitudes of over stimulating colleagues won’t do because it doesn’t tell us what exactly he achieves by escaping.

10.   Cultural differences

11.   Listening and working creatively