Sounds almost like "need for cognition" has a big overlap with simply "introverted".
Re:Is Facebook geared to dullards?
by architectzero on Monday April 18, 2011 @03:58PM
(#2460390)
The Need for Cognition Scale can be found here: http://www.liberalarts.wabash.edu/ncs/
Note (from the link): "Based on previous research, the Need for Cognition Scale appears to be a valid and reliable measure of individuals’ tendencies to pursue and enjoy the process of thinking"
It has nothing to do with Intro/Extroversion. NFC may have some correlation to Intro/Extroversion, but one cannot draw that conclusion from the NFC study alone.
I don't see where you're getting that conclusion from, based on the items in the comment you're responding to. The chief conclusion about the social interactions of high-NFC people seems to be that they care more about the quality of arguments when being persuaded than the attractiveness of the arguer.
Taking the Carr and Wikipedia 'high NFC' qualities together, don't you see a description of people who often prefer thinking deeply to themselves over superficial smalltalk and other group social 'grooming' activities?
Compare 'high NFC' with 'introverted' as described by this famous "Caring for your Introvert" article:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/03/caring-f...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_for_cognition cites a few surveys. Here are some facts about NFC:
"need for cognition was related weakly and negatively to being closeminded, unrelated to social desirability, and positively correlated with general intelligence" [http://psycnet.apa.org/?&fa=main.doiLanding&fuseacti...]
"currently enrolled students high in the need for cognition expressed greater life satisfaction than students low in the need for cognition" [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCR/is_2_38/ai_n6130...]
"People high in the need for cognition are more likely to form their attitudes by paying close attention to relevant arguments (i.e., via the central route to persuasion), whereas people low in the need for cognition are more likely to rely on peripheral cues, such as how attractive or credible a speaker is" [wikipedia]
"people who are high in the need for cognition scale score slightly higher in verbal intelligence tests but no higher in abstract reasoning tests" [wikipedia]
"Research has concluded that individuals high in NFC are less likely to attribute higher social desirability to more attractive individuals or to males" [wikipedia]
"The need for cognition is unrelated to social dominance orientation." [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3852/is_200101/ai_n8...]