The Direct Message: Preferring solitude over superficial interactions isn’t about avoiding connection—it’s about recognizing that attention is finite and choosing where to invest it. The preference for solitude over superficial interaction often signals the presence of specific cognitive and emotional capacities, not their absence. The connection makes sense when you consider what superficial social interaction actually demands. People low in conformity orientation often find superficial social interaction particularly costly. But when we examine the traits that actually correlate with preferring solitude over superficial interaction, a different picture emerges.