Is there a neutral term for people who tend to avoid face-to-face or video/audio communication? Imagine a person who:


Mostly prefers written communication (email, instant messaging) to making phone/video calls or seeing face-to-face
Hardly ever watches videos on the internet. Prefers reading
At college/uni, instead of attending lectures/seminars, would successfully study things on their own using the recommended materials, and would always pass the exams
Would rather sort things out themselves instead of asking for help/directions
Are great at working from home
Generally does not socialise and are very happy to stay on their own / keep to themselves
Avoids living in cities and prefers rural low-to-zero populated areas
Does not hate people but just finds most of them rather boring or being nuisance
Despite all the above, are very positive and friendly when communicating face-to-face and are very valued within their professional circle


I have been trying to find a term to describe such a person but so far all terms that I found seem to bear a negative connotation or identify a disorder. There is no negativity or disorder here as the person does not feel stress or disability and are very happy with what they are.

Examples of terms that are close but do not match for reasons explained:


Autism spectrum and Asperger syndrome are both defined as "disorders" with "difficulties". The person does not have any difficulties: they do appear socialising and communicating just fine — when they need it for some purpose other than socialising/communicating itself;
Misanthrope actually hates people (which makes the term regarded as rather negative). The subject person does not. They simply avoid seeing people unnecessarily;
Recluse is a very close call, but it describes a person who does live that way without conveying anything of whether they want to live that way. A very social party goer may hide away and be a recluse if a gang is after them. Conversely, the subject person who, despite their preference, lives in a big city and participates in social drinks at work just because it secures their career cannot be called "recluse";
Loner is another good word but it is not sufficiently neutral. As the linked article says, "the modern term "loner" can be used with a negative connotation in the belief that human beings are social creatures and those that do not participate are deviant."
I agree with @AlwaysConfused that this sounds very like someone with Asperger's.

However, if you want a more "neutral" term, would Introvert help?

Such a person - an Ixxx on the Myers-Briggs scale - typically finds their "energy levels" drain when in groups of people, and recharge when they are on their own.