28 April 2022 | prestonhollowpeople.com
Schools
HOW DO OUR BRAINS REACT TO INTROVERTS?
St. Mark’s student uses neuroscience, interviews to study biases By Greg Nielsen
People Newspapers
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t. Mark’s School of Texas senior Zubin Mehta sees himself as an introvert living in a world in love with extroverts. People tend to be “attracted to the familiar,” he said, but his question is: “Why can’t I just be who I am?” During the 2019 summer break, his search for answers prompted him to study unconscious personality bias. Working with Michelle Adams, founder of Marketing Brainology in Plano, he’s combined electroencephalogram (EEG) test results and interviews with business and government leaders to study how people react to introverts. Adams and Mehta used the EEGs, which detect electrical activity, to see how people’s brains reacted in certain situations. The tests appeared to provide evidence of an unconscious bias against the introverted and a desire for the familiar, Mehta said. He used interviews to see if and how that played out in real life. Mehta sent out 100s of emails. He didn’t always get a response, but those who did reach back would often put him in contact with others who would help. Many did video interviews
Zubin Mehta, and his father, Nimesh Mehta, sit for an interview with Michelle Adams, founder of Marketing Brainology in Plano. Zubin Mehta and other participants in his research got electroencephalogram (EEG) tests to see how their brains reacted to various personalities. (PHOTOS: COURTESY ZUBIN MEHTA) for his website. And his interview subjects weren’t small time. He talked to the likes of former Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, Toyota Motor CFO Tracey Doi, and Illuma Labs CEO Milind Borkar. Mehta was surprised to learn how many of the leaders he talked to considered themselves introverted. Introverts acting extroverted
to get noticed or get by proved a recurring theme. “People will take on assumed behaviors to get to a goal,” Mehta explained, but added, “I’ve found zero examples of extroverts being introverted (to get ahead).” It’s a lot of work to conduct interviews, go to school, and do all the other activities associated with being in high school,
Why can’t I just be who I am? Zubin Mehta
Mehta said. “It helped that it started over summer break because there was less to do, but you make time for what you’re passionate about. If it means I miss a social or sporting event here or there, it’s OK.” Mehta wants to keep doing the interviews with leaders because those make the neuroscience aspect of the project relatable and the information easier to process, he said. Mehta also hopes his project will help younger people,
not just by showing them how to interact with others but also by encouraging them to realize their value, he said. “I’ve definitely grown confidence f rom the experience.”
CHECK IT OUT Visit zubinmehta.me to learn more about Zubin Mehta’s research and view his interviews with various leaders.
Personalities And Pluralism: Empathy Provides Path to Inclusion When we think of leadership, we generally think that extroversion rules. Most of us are encouraged to be outgoing, talkative, enthusiastic, and make every effort to fit into an extroverted persona to be Z U B I N M E H TA viewed as leaders, raising the question, “Aren’t personalities a part of the pluralism of we?” My science-based electroencephalography (EEG) study indicated that people, both introverted and extroverted, are drawn towards extroversion. The same study indicated a preference to masquerade to fit in over identifying as an introvert, as it’s often seen as a weakness. Concerned that masquerading to extroversion creates an echo chamber and the loss of diversity in thought, I began uncovering insights through leadership interviews. I interviewed Dr. Stephanie Knight, dean of the Simmons School of Education at SMU, who described to me how “academia has favored extroverts; those who talk most get noticed, but not necessarily have the best idea.” To change that, “You must model what
To succeed, we need EMPATHY to bring diversity, equity, and inclusion to the forefront. E — Engage with new rules that break the paradigm by determining personality types. M — Meet people where they are versus having them try to match your personality. P — Pause to process. Allow 30 seconds to process before responding to questions. A — Alternatives. Change from verbal to whiteboard responses. T — Take a break. Offer a restroom break for the introvert to recharge. H — Humanize the communication process from monologue to connection. Y — YOU are the person that has the Zubin Mehta interviewed Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brenda T. Rhoades of the Eastern District power to change the process — use it! of Texas. (PHOTO: COURTESY ZUBIN MEHTA) As Sean Woodroffe, chief people officer civil discourse looks like,” says Collin Igoe, leaders; many of our forefathers are clas- for TIAA, summarized for me, “The juxUpper School head at St. Mark’s School of sically introverts,” said Genevieve Collins, taposition of introversion and extroversion Texas. who ran for Congress in 2020. … requires special effort to cope with sitShyam Venkat, CIO at Pepsi, explained: And these differences are a part of our uational context on the part of introverts “there is lots of focus on racial (and) gender future, so “putting people in boxes takes and extroverts.” diversity which are important, but often their potential away,” explained Mehran For change to occur, we must find ways thought diversity takes a backseat.” Assadi, CEO for National Life Group. to connect with people and encourage This got me thinking about what we have To get the best out of people, “embrace them to participate. learned about human diversity from our past personality differences,” said Chief U.S. That is inclusion. leaders and how that applies to our future. Bankruptcy Judge Brenda Rhodes of the Zubin Mehta is a senior at St. Mark’s In fact, “Introverts have made great Eastern District of Texas. School of Texas.
