Amy Schumer is promoting her new book, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, before she kicks off her world tour on Friday. While appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Stephen asked Amy about her claim in the book that she is an introvert. Since most people associate the term introvert with being shy and restrained, it seems a surprising declaration from one the most popular stand up comics who is currently doing book signings and working the talk show circuit. But Amy says it’s true and that as soon as she steps off the stage, she just wants to be alone.

Amy Schumer wasn’t joking on Monday’s “Late Show” when she opened up about being an introvert. In her new book, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, the comedian shares a variety of personal stories, but the reveal that she prefers to be somewhat withdrawn was the biggest surprise for Stephen Colbert.

Schumer is one of the most popular comics around, so you can understand Colbert’s bewilderment. However, she explains that performing is actually ideal for her situation.

“I’m onstage and I’m yapping, and then I’m in my hotel room by myself,” said Schumer. “It seems strange, but yeah, I am a classic introvert.”

Actually, having some time alone is the best thing for introverts. Schumer says she just runs out of energy and needs some time to reboot.

“I don’t want to talk to anyone. If I see someone even I like at the gym, I’m like, ‘Oh God.’ It’s like, you wanna recharge and be alone,” said Schumer.

[From Huffington Post]

I had so much fun researching this post. And by research, I mean using Google so I hope our psychologists/psychiatrists/therapists will jump in. I had heard a few years back that “introverted” and “introvert” are not interchangeable. The distinction between introverts and extroverts, probably over-simplifying it, is that introverts need to be alone to recharge and extroverts need people to recharge. CB, however, turned me on to this great new term I had never heard, “ambivert” which is a person that is both charged and drained by both situations, being alone or in a group. Then I found this article discussing new theories about there being four different types of introverts. I am someone that others just don’t believe is an introvert. Turns out, I am a Thinking-Social Introvert, I need time alone with my thoughts but I have no anxiety about social situations and am often the life of the party – provided I don’t attend too many parties.

When I read the excerpt above, it sounded to me like Amy is, as she said, a classic introvert. However, after I listened to the full clip of her on Colbert, she ends by talking about loving being on the road and says that she brings her family and friends on her tour bus and loves talking to the crowds, so I think CB is right about her being an ambivert.

In an ironic shift of spotlight, there is a lot of attention on introverts currently. I don’t want to be seen as an extrovertist, some of my best friends are extroverts. So for all you extroverts, enjoy this and this.

Photo credit: WENN Photos