Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?

[zoobyshoe]

That's an interesting way of looking at it. I was trying to think of an internal reasoning that may be at play in the two groups. I wasn't able to come up with anything I thought was solid though. Your idea sounds about right.

It could be, but I can't vouch for my understanding of extroverts.

I met an extremely attractive young woman last week who was a clear cut extrovert. She was a non-stop talker. I love the company of attractive women and to keep her interest all I had to do was listen: she stuck with me for three hours. In that time she said nothing whatever of any importance or that demonstrated any particular insights, but it was the way she talked that seemed to convey her meaning: she was enthusiastic about everything and just the act of existing seemed to give her pleasure.

I was already thinking about this introvert/extrovert thing when she showed up and my impression was that her way of finding her balance was to let things out as soon as the slightest pressure built up. There was no meanness or coldness to her. It was all good natured and warm. Still, I can only say what she appeared to be doing. I've never been in that state of mind myself and can't describe it from the inside. I don't think extroverts are ever introspective enough to examine themselves well enough to articulate it accurately, either.

 

[Schrodinger's Dog]

hmm, so i wrote up this whole schpeil about introvert vs extrovert, and i think I've changed my mind maybe. i was saying how everyone needs social interaction, even introverts, the difference lies in who's comfortable in large crowds. but i dunno... i was trying to go through all the extroverts i know, and i came to the conclusion that they're all secretly introverted.

i think i have a new conclusion. the test is: if a good friend introduces you to a good friend of theirs you've never met, how do you react? extroverts are the ones who give hugs or start talking a ton or otherwise act very excited and comfy. introverts can vary from just polite "how do you do"s to just silence.

by that, I'm mostly introverted unless I'm some odd mood. which happens, but majority of the time, I'm just polite and smile and that's about it. .. oh and i think the people who hug are nuts.

The French kiss, even strangers! Now that's odd

Actually when they do often you feel comfortable with it, it's little different from a handshake.

I usual have to be coerced into talking to someone I don't know, I have some odd stranger issues. What I find odd, or did when I was younger was that really shy people who seem to be real wall flowers or shrinking violets, who you assume lacked self confidence, when pushed can be very willfull and dominant, this always seemed to be a bit of a strange combination in people. They wouldn't interact but if you tried to step on their toes then you'd get a mouthful :)

 

[Jeff Ford]

I'm generally introverted unless alcohol is involved

The way my wife explained it to me is that it's dependent on what recharges you. If you've had a long day at work and the first thing you want to do to unwind is spend time with a group, you're an extrovert. If, in the same situation, you just want to go home and be alone, you're an introvert.

 

[BryanP]

Definitely introverted. A lot of my daily life occurs inside my room opposed to the outside world. It doesn't mean I don't have social skills though. I've been there before (had my share of an extroverted lifestyle), and in conclusion I just prefer doing things on my own.

 

[turbo]

Introverts are like fermions, and extroverts are like bosons.

Heterosexual introverts are like fermions, anyway. They don't mind sharing space with another fermion as long as their spin-states are different. Homosexual introverts are not necessarily bosonic - they just don't care what Wolfgang Pauli thinks.

 

[Gale]

I'm generally introverted unless alcohol is involved

The way my wife explained it to me is that it's dependent on what recharges you. If you've had a long day at work and the first thing you want to do to unwind is spend time with a group, you're an extrovert. If, in the same situation, you just want to go home and be alone, you're an introvert.

well if your wife said so, it must be true eh?

 

[Moonbear]

I'm generally introverted unless alcohol is involved

The way my wife explained it to me is that it's dependent on what recharges you. If you've had a long day at work and the first thing you want to do to unwind is spend time with a group, you're an extrovert. If, in the same situation, you just want to go home and be alone, you're an introvert.

What happens if either is okay? I just find that going home and being alone is usually the more available option...it's hard to find people willing to go out without pre-planning...maybe I just work with people who are mostly introverted? But, if I can wrangle up a few willing participants, then going out to play is a good way to put a rough day or week behind. Or, I can just go home and unwind with a hot bath or by cooking a nice dinner for myself.

 

[Lisa!]

by that, I'm mostly introverted unless I'm some odd mood. which happens, but majority of the time, I'm just polite and smile and that's about it. .. oh and i think the people who hug are nuts.

Crazier than those who hug are those people who want to kiss you anyway even if you swear you just catch a cold...

People who bring me food or coffee tend to randomly get hugs for it. one girl has lent me her espresso machine (which now resides in the Physics dpt student lounge). She's about four foot eleven, I'm six one, almost knocked her right over. Yeah, I'm nuts.

Not surprising if people wouldn't bring you anything after a while!

 

[franznietzsche]

Not surprising if people wouldn't bring you anything after a while!

Mostly they mail me stuff now

I'm supposed to be getting brownies...

 

[Entropy]

I'm a hermit so I'll go with introverted.

 

[GregA]

Introverts that I know tend to have fewer friends. They may have several aqauintances but there are really only a few people that they keep in touch with and spend time with regularly. They may like crowds but more as observers than as participants. They tend not to talk much unless you happen to touch on something that is a particularly favoured topic, ground they feel they can tread confidently. Or if they are comfortable with a person and know them relatively well they may be more open and talkative. Around strangers they tend to keep quite and listen more than talk. The like going to places they know and generally feel out of place in places they have never been before.

Wow!...I think I fit every one of those criteria!
Does anyone who knows they are strongly introverted ever do well at pretending that they're extroverts, I wish that I could do myself but never have the bottle to try.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Wow!...I think I fit every one of those criteria!
Does anyone who knows they are strongly introverted ever do well at pretending that they're extroverts, I wish that I could do myself but never have the bottle to try.

Being introverted and being shy aren't exactly the same thing. I think you can be introverted but not necessarily shy. I think that being an introvert means mainly that your concern is with what's going on inside yourself. An extrovert is more focused on exterior things. They are certainly affected by what's going on inside them, but they aren't paying conscious attention to it, I think.

Being shy is to be particularly preoccupuied with the thought that you won't come off well in other's eyes. That's something that can be overcome. Overcoming it won't make you an extrovert, but you can be a lot more social and even occasionally gregarious.