An Introverted character is one who, while not necessarily being shy, is still far from the most social person you will ever meet. They prefer working alone, or, if they have to work with others, prefer small groups, and probably will not be the leader. They're often portrayed as more intellectual than their more extroverted counterparts, though this isn't always the case. Also, while they're less likely to actually show their emotions, they probably feel just as much as said extroverted counterparts (which can result in some very withering rants if they're pushed too far).
The short version: An introvert gains energy by being alone, and expends it by being in large groups of people. In Myers-Briggs parlance, they are I's. They tend to be either melancholic or phlegmatic II and the Blue Oni.
Compare Solitary Tropes and Shyness Tropes. Contrast Extraversion Tropes. For the Trope Maker and Trope Codifier, see Carl Jung.
Tropes associated with Introverts:
- Absent-Minded Professor: He's brilliant yet he pays little thought to the world around him, including his people skills.
- Aloof Ally: That person who's on your team, but does not seem too keen on working with or getting attached to anybody on the team.
- Aloof Big Brother: He's social towards everyone except his younger sibling.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: She's tall, beautiful, dark-haired, and admired by many but is distant and doesn't associate with people much.
- Bookworm: One of the most common types of introverts are the kind who spend more time reading than socializing.
- Broken Bird: Sometimes, a person can become withdrawn from great trauma.
- City in a Bottle: This place is so isolated from the world that the residents don't even realize that there's an outside world.
- Did You Think I Can't Feel?: Even the most antisocial of people still have feelings.
- Eating Lunch Alone: When by choice.
- Emotionless Girl: That girl who rarely if ever emotes, which hampers her ability to form attachments with others.
- Friendless Background: When by choice.
- Hates Small Talk: This person isn't too keen on casual conversation.
- The Hermit
- Hidden Elf Village: An entire community of people who decided to isolate themselves from the rest of the world.
- Hikikomori: This person shuts themselves away from the world due to anxiety or lack of social skills.
- I Work Alone: Introverts prefer working by themselves over being a part of a group.
- Ice Queen: Female characters with a cold disposition tend to be introverted.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: When an aloof introverted character warms up overtime.
- Ineffectual Loner: When introversion gets you nowhere in life.
- Introverted Cat Person: Introverts tend to enjoy the company of pet cats.
- I'm Not Here to Make Friends: Introverts are more concerned about winning a game than socializing.
- Intelligence Equals Isolation: Being smart prevents you from relating to other people from your peer group, which in turn makes it very hard to make friends.
- Leave Me Alone!
- Loners Are Freaks: When being an introvert earns you suspicion and criticism.
- Misunderstood Loner with a Heart of Gold: Since Loners Are Freaks, he's assumed to be evil because he has no friends but he's actually quite harmless once you get to know him.
- Loners Will Stay Alone
- Mad Mathematician
- Mr. Imagination: They tend to get so caught up in their imaginary world that they neglect the real world and real people.
- Nerd
- No Social Skills: The often leading cause of introversion.
- The Quiet One: They don't say much, often tend to not get involved in conversations with others.
- Beware the Quiet Ones: Probably not a good idea to treat this person as an easy target, they may be more dangerous than you think.
- Rant-Inducing Slight
- Reclusive Artist: Keeps to themselves despite being a renowned artist.
- Seriously Scruffy: When a character doesn't go out and interact with people enough to warrant being clean shaven.
- Shrinking Violet: This person is severely lacking in both social skills and confidence.
- The Shut-In: The character almost never leaves their house for any number of reasons, many being involuntary.
- Small, Secluded World
- The Snark Knight: The snarkiest characters tend to keep to themselves more often than not.
- The Spock
- The Stoic: Introverts tend to show little to no emotion.
- Not So Stoic: ...though there are times where they do.
- Stoic Woobie
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Appearing cold in personality when actually being a sweetheart tends to alienate people from you.
- Troubled Fetal Position
- Used to Be More Social: The character was once a social butterfly, but is now less sociable.
- The Wonka
- Zen Survivor