Graduate Studies

 

First Advisor

Nathan Conner

Department

Leadership Studies

Date of this Version

Spring 2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Comments

Copyright 2024, Katie J. Jolicoeur. Used by permission

Abstract

Current American cultural and societal ideals favor personalities that are outgoing, positive, and talkative in nature, due to the rise of the Culture of Personality (Wilmot, 2019; Kim, 2012; Cain, 2013). Beginning with the industrial revolution and expanding rapidly midcentury, parents began to view children who are quiet as less favorable than those who are more gregarious, thus children and parents began forced socialization at an earlier age (Wilmot, 2019; Cain, 2013). Very little, if any, research has been conducted to understand the impact that the cultural ideal of favoring extraversion has upon undergraduate students seeking a degree in business, which focuses primarily on training future professionals to sell themselves as well as products, work in teams, and effectively lead others in an outgoing, vocal manner (Shahzad et al., 2015; Morgan et al., 2008). The purpose of this qualitative study was to begin to understand the experiences of undergraduate business students who identify as introverts and examine their self-perceptions of their own leadership ability. The findings demonstrated that undergraduate business students overall have negative perceptions of their introversion and do not feel equipped to lead others as a result. However, the participants indicated that they also have developed appreciation for the strengths they have as a result of their introverted natures and are seeking ways to develop their leadership abilities for the future.

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