Mental health and positive introversion: a positive autoethnographic case study of Mark Weeks
| Date | 12 August 2024 |
| Pages | 31-42 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-05-2024-0086 |
| Published date | 12 August 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
| Author | Mark Weeks,Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky |
Mental health and positive introversion:
a positive autoethnographic case
study of Mark Weeks
Mark Weeks and Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of thisarticle is to garner insight into positiveintroversion, meaning experiences
of introvertedbehaviour that may be perceivedas positive and perform positivefunctions in one’s life. The
subject is MarkWeeks, whose primary researchhas been in cultural studies andphilosophy, particularly
focusingon laughter and humour,during a career spent mostlyat Nagoya University in Japan.
Design/methodology/approach –This case study uses positiveautoethnography, a methodology that
was co-conceivedby Weeks. It includes a 10-questioninterview.
Findings –The authors learn how Weeks has positively embraced his introversion to negotiate
challenges in his life, fostering resilience, gratitude and joyful experience. In the process, Weeks
foregroundsthe importance of solitary laughter and humour in his existentialjourney.
Research limitations/implications –Introversion is often depicted negatively in the literature. Yet,
much introversionis and can be developed as, positive.
Practical implications –The narrative shared here is oneof trials, exploration and discovery, offering
practicalinsight for introverts and those interestedin understanding introvertedbehaviour in general.
Social implications –Positively embracing aspects of introversion can be an important step for
introverts in finding a healthy and enjoyable balance between the social and the solitary. Indeed, the
same may apply to extravertswho fear being alone. Greater social recognitionof valuable experiences
withinsolitude could help to produce more tolerantand adaptable societies.
Originality/value –To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is an original artic le, narrated by a contributor
to the development of positive autoethnography. It focuses on areas of personal expe rience that are often
marginalized and poorly understood, including posit ive potentials of introversion and of solitary laughter.
Keywords Humour, Autoethnography, Laughter, Positive autoethnography, Introversion,
Solitary laughter
Paper type Case study
Introduction
This positive autoethnographic case study is structured around the narrative of Mark Weeks,
a long-time professorof cultural studies at Nagoya University, Japan. Weeks is a contributor
to the development of positive autoethnography (Gonot-Schoupin sky et al.,2023), which
draws upon positive psychology and positive reflexivity (Gonot-Schoupinsky et al.,2024).
Positive autoethnography is employed here to reflect on positive introversion and follows
pieces on positive aging (Shaffer and Gonot-Schoupinsky, 2024), leadership (Mayer and
Gonot-Schoupin sky, 2024), meaning (Wongand Gonot-Schoupinsky, 2024) andforgiveness
(Worthington and Gonot-Schoupinsky, 2024), as well as a previous case study series on
laughter and humour(e.g. Morrison et al.,2023).
Introversion is often perceived negatively in the literature, typically through the contrasting
of extraverts, considered “warm”, “sociable” and “assertive”, with introverts, perceived as
Mark Weeks is based at the
Institute of Liberal Arts and
Sciences, Nagoya
University, Nagoya, Japan.
Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky
is Visiting Research Fellow
at the Faculty of Health and
Wellbeing, School of
Psychology, University of
Bolton, Bolton, UK.
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-05-2024-0086 VOL. 29 NO. 1 2025, pp. 31-42, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 jMENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION jPAGE 31
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