The chapter explores the concept of awkwardness and its evolutionary origins, highlighting the correlation between social awkwardness and extraordinary achievement. It discusses the self-flagellation and insecurity that can come from being socially awkward, while also highlighting that self-awareness about one's awkwardness can actually be appreciated by others. The chapter concludes that awkward people have huge advantages and add diversity to group thinking.
Awkwardness gets a bad rap, but the trait is often an indicator that someone is extraordinary.
Psychologist and author Ty Tashiro has spent a great deal of time studying (and living!) social awkwardness. He's fascinated by how the same traits that cause us social embarrassment can also drive exceptional accomplishment.
As a fellow awkward person myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Ty about the advantages of being awkward, what the socially fluent can learn from awkward people, and the best way to navigate conversations in loud clubs.
This...is A Bit of Optimism.
For more on Ty and his work check out:
His book: AWKWARD: The Science of Why We're Socially Awkward and Why That's Awesome.
tytashiro.com
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