Can an introvert be a surgeon?

Question

I am an introvert, and have some social anxiety as well. Could I posibly be a surgeon? I consider myself intelligent, but I prefer to work alone.

Answer 1

Alright, lets get some terminology clear here. Introversion is not sociability. If someone says it is they are using psycho-babble. Introversion is the manner in which the ego interacts with information/reality. The ego itself bridges the gap between the self and the outside world. It can favor one or the other (This may be neurological in origin.) as a source of information and the place it wants it interact with. Social anxiety isn't caused by introversion, although social reclusion may be caused by social anxiety. Even if someone spent their entire life hiding in their house that still doesn't prove they are an introvert! So you may not actually be introverted.

Social anxiety can be cause by several things, both physical and psychological in nature. People with social anxiety often have a low self-esteem, but I don’t know that a low self-esteem causes social anxiety, it may. I have a little social anxiety myself and do not have a low self esteem. So there isn’t a one to one correlation. If your social anxiety is severe enough you may want to go to a psychologist. But, everyone suggests that people go to psychologists if there is the slightest thing wrong with them. If we listened to those people we would spend all out time in waiting room. And we would be waiting forever because the psychologist would be in someone else’s waiting room too. So that is the question, is your social anxiety someone you can learn to force yourself past or is it literally crippling.

If it is something you have to work yourself past, don’t worry about your interactions with your patients. People build their personality/s all the time. Many people have more than one “persona”. You may find that it is still awkward to go to the grocery store, but when your are with a patient you are a very warm and open person.

And a last comment on can introverts become surgeons. I have yet to see a study or survey that places more extraverts in scientific and medical fields than introverts. So not only can introverts be surgeons, more doctors are introverts. My question is, what are all those extraverts doing on introvert turf?

Answer 2

This would be a good question to explore with a therapist. Personality characteristics seem less important in being a surgeon than being intelligent enought to score in the top half of a medical school class (cause that is where the surgery residencies are recruited) and being functional enough with your social anxiety to handle the rough and tumble criticism of med school. It is a lot of hard work.

Answer 3

Well, surgeons never work alone.. Also medicine is a profession where your entire work is concern for others. Part of our job is to work to develope a working bond with our patients and help to establish trust.As a surgeon your entire day is going to people, people, and more people. Concentrate on getting the social anxiety and introversion out of your like. It will hold you back no matter what field you choose.

Answer 4

Yes, but probably not someone's favorite surgeon since interaction with patients and a warm personality as well as book knowledge is also part of what makes a likable surgeon.