Re-thinking college: Alec Macmillen at TEDxMiddlebury

Alec's interest in the interplay between social norms and the science of personality arose when he read Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain, and it was Cain's TED talk that inspired him to enter Middlebury's TEDx student speaker competition.
Alec MacMillen (Middlebury College class of 2014) originally hails from Hillsborough, CA and is an International Politics and Economics major with a Middle East focus. After graduation, he plans to return to the Middle East to continue studying Arabic and pursue work designing language education policy.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@dothedeed]

hate these misleading titles.

[@abm1979]

not my fault, they didn't use the title i gave them....

[@Annu14]

@@abm1979 😂

[@sking51]

@@abm1979 Some people make assumptions🤭

[@FutureActress224]

I think that one and that many people are both introverted and extroverted depending on the social situation.

[@violethatchell3796]

INTROVERTS: ASSEMBLE!

[@agwatring]

ye

[@Ruthavecflute]

Nah, I'm good,

[@Repsol1krr]

Felt like I was listening to myself.

[@mef1975]

Breakfast before school? Wow, who thinks of these things? Anyhow, sounds like he was surrounded by quite the bunch of brainwashed cliques in college. I thought people outgrew that in high school? Am I hearing right, that for him, it was actually the other way around? Have things really changed that much since I was in high school?

[@rssdesignz]

Actually in college, currently, you do start to see a lot of social "cliques" forming in their own right, even in the form of frats and sororities.

[@aaryas6821]

Excellent talk. Having just graduated from college, I could not agree more.

[@DuragaDares]

Can you explain

[@easibreezietreecie]

The was an AWESOME talk but its named wrong lol. I would have never watched it had I not clicked on the wrong video based on the title.

[@TheHoopMountain]

He explained this perfectly

[@rebeccafonss5213]

There has been more discussion on a third category of Ambiverts which is a combination of the 2 which I can identify with more. I'd always said that I think I'm an Extroverted Introvert or Introverted Extrovert so the Ambivert concept fits better for me.

[@thomashenz8045]

Btw you don't need to be one of either one there is always a 50/50.

[@rahul22m]

love the bow tie

[@ThuyNguyen-bu9ge]

I disagree. Being sociable, engaging in conversations, asking and answering questions, giving a speech, networking, these are all skills that can be learned. Different people prefer different activities like staying home to study or going out, but to profess that it's programmed into our DNA our extrovert/introvert preferences such that we can't change what we want or what we can do is misleading. If the situation calls for extrovert such as at a networking interview, then you must learn those skills. When the situation calls for introvert via self reflection and thoughtful self-study when planning life's goals and career development, then you must learn those skills. What is programmed into our DNA is survival, not preferences - that's environment and nurture. I believe the narrator instead wants to raise awareness that we must accept people's preferences and needs. If they don't want to go to parties or spend all their free time socializing, then it's perfectly okay and understandable because they have personal goals that they want to achieve. Why must we always talk and talk and talk and update on social media sites or go to parties? Why can't we just be alone, relaxed, studying, reading a book and do important self reflection without having friends and family mad at/judgmental of us for not wanting to socialize? Why can't we just sit alone to think? So I disagree with the justification that being an introvert or an extrovert is "programmed" into our DNA, because preferences can change (not like my natural eye color) and skills can be learned. I do agree that we must respect people's needs to be alone, so they can think, study, reflect and seek a deeper understanding of their thoughts.

[@elinope4745]

Tiffastic Nguyen check out the term "highly sensitive person". stop and think about it, your brain and your body create your feelings and your thoughts. many introverts are more sensitive to sound than most people. many over-analyze things and are overwhelmed when a highly active environment. genetics effect your brain structure, your stomach, your adrenaline glands. of course they have a massive impact on your personality.

[@Kaytube19]

Tiffastic Nguyen He did state that certain personality characteristics can be learned, but he also mentioned that it comes with a cost. To act as an extrovert, when you are really more naturally introverted can cause a lot of frustration and exhaustion. It is like putting on a show and pretending to be something you are not. Certain personality traits/characteristics have been proven by science to have genetic roots, so he isn't making this stuff up and there is science behind it.

[@SloppyJohnGiuffre]

I'm happy that my introversion and extroversion balance seems t be about 50/50. I quite enjoy social interaction, I'm a comedian, and I get a huge buzz from making people laugh, and can chat away for hours. But I can also become highly motivated on my own. The reason introversion is less valued is because we are a social creature. If you get less energy from social interaction, you will interact socially less, terefor be worse at it, and therefor be less successful. Extroversion is an amazing trait to have. I thoroughly think that everything can be manipulated though. You can learn both. If you can't sit alone in a room without falling into a depression then you are equally useless. I'm tired of people giving a shit about these "labels." You can fight your genetics, you can learn to do anything. This is a whole lot of woo-woo special snowflake bullshit. Just do the thing you want to do. If you feel bad about not having friends, don't blame it on introversion and expect people to feel bad for you or even care. If you are annoying and stupid because you can't ever spend time alone thinking or reading, then don't be surprised when your life turns to shit because you have no skill or knowledge to back up your confidence.

[@hahadakota4111]

John Giuffré who carss

[@Edwinryanmailme]

HE is very Susan :) repeated lines.. repeated structure of the story telling.. phrases and messages :)

[@katdeulin640]

This interpretation of people as solely introverted or extroverted is simplistic

[@ralphmumbeck5758]

6:00 minutes in...

[@HarmonyP]

Fellow introvert here, What a Great lecture.

[@jangofet555]

you can control your genes. change and go beyond your beliefs and perceptions to change them. i am an introvert and i think we need to feel and perceive everyone as family and move beyond the views of others toward us. and be honest with our selves, that enjoying life with others more than we do, is funner. are identity can change and evolve.

[@Socrates...]

I don't think there is such a thing as an introvert or extrovert, it is a false dichotomy. We may be predisposed to one or the other but could mould ourselves into a more holistic person.

[@lukeb8045]

+Socrates Yeah but he believes why should we have to?

[@jeanp.5929]

I'm thinking on the same lines. I think introversion and extraversion is a continuum in expressive human behavior. I can't for the life of me ever believe one person is a complete extravert and another is a complete introvert. To put it more bluntly, can you go your whole life not expressing, communicating, or socializing? On the other end, can you go your whole life expressing and communicating every minute detail about yourself? Can you be in a chronic social situation and feel completely at ease? I'm hoping everyone would answer "no!" to those questions but for young people trying to figure out their identities, it can feel "good" to finally be able to label yourself. What I'm trying to point out is, a psychological identity label can be an illusion. What was once real scientific psychology has become fanatic psychology.

[@hemantparakh8995]

please keep me updated with Passive Education Schemes, Thanks

[@williammaldonado3516]

Can you be both? Like 1/2 and 1/2...

[@eezus]

I feel like I'm mixed between the two but I can't say for sure though

[@aaryas6821]

***** There are ambiverts.

[@mpking-ey7ys]

Is partying a euphemism for sex, alcohol and drugs?

[@pizzaboynizza1]

I like enjoying my food in peace.

[@LyricalOpposition]

Introverts FTW!

[@Andi-qn3rc]

I'm really extrovert everywhere but school. I have no friends at school 🤔 I wonder why I change from extro to intro

[@immichaeliplaykirbyinsmash920]

Great

[@catpaws2452]

Not sure how this found me but I definitely relate with this. The social codes of the world hit during college

[@williammegowen6349]

ok that's a lie. one of my heroes was a jew once...

[@toooes]

Alec, the amygdala does not generate a fear response contrary to popular belief. Instead it plays some role- presumably sensory; looking for subconscious cues- in activating other parts of the brain which cause the experience of fear but it is still not known what exactly causes someone to fear.

[@jfur5881]

Dusty Ury it could be due to the James Lang theory which states that emotion comes from our interpretation of physiological responses. Your interpretation depends on similar past experiences that have occurred. So if something similar happened that previously triggered a fear response you are more likely to interpret it again as a fearful situation. This interpretation mainly takes place subconsciously so it can be hard to control.

[@DNAatWork14]

I like telling my little brother how nerd school is fun... He loves school in a dorky and a nerdy way!

[@LMIHK]

Carlos Vega Hope you don't call him nerd in a cruel or mean or negative way. Nerd is fun!

[@econdude3811]

A brilliant talk! - INTp

[@kncheese]

Nicely done

[@Hannahcolorsrfun]

The bowtie is cute! :D!!!

[@thelord9999]

+Hannah Patten sooo ????? you're soo superficial, look at what he said.

[@Hannahcolorsrfun]

I did listen to his points but i also think his bowtie is cute! and you are allowed to say im superficial, but that doesn't mean i have to agree ;) In the areas i am superficial, i am improving so as to not be. Bye have fun!

[@jimsmith9666]

Good God, really? Try thinking that your not the center of the universe! In technical terms GET A LIFE!