Posted on 06/15/2007 4:51:54 PM PDT by WFTR
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
In our ongoing series of "get acquainted" threads, this weekend's topic is whether folks are introverts or extroverts and how the difference might affect us.
In any discussion of this topic, an important point is to define what each of these personality traits means. An inaccurate and abbreviated definition, likely spoken by an extrovert, would be, "Extroverts like other people and introverts do not." A more accurate and interesting definition that I've read in many recent articles is that extroverts are people who are "recharged" by their interactions with other people and drained by having to be alone or do things alone. Introverts are the opposite. Introverts are often drained by social interaction and recharged by time spent alone. Another description that I read once but haven't been able to find again is that introverts don't dislike people but that they have a strong preference for close friendships that are already formed. Extroverts also have a need for close friendships, but they are equally as excited by the possibilities of meeting new people.
An important point is that introverts and extroverts really are "wired" differently. I've read in a couple of places that each personality type's brain will work differently when confronted with certain situations. Neither type can just "change" because being the other type seems better or because others exert pressure to make a person change.
Just over a year ago, Alamo-Girl and Nita Nupress started a thread where they asked people to take a personality survey that would identify several aspects of personality. One of these was a person's tendency to being an introvert or extrovert. That thread is at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1600787/posts . Some of you may have participated in that thread. The first initial of the personality types is an "I" or an "E" for introvert or extrovert, and Alamo-Girl and Nita Nupress listed everyone who fit each type. I haven't looked at the results in great detail, but one obvious point is that introvert Freepers outnumber extrovert Freepers by a pretty good margin among those willing to look at a thread on this topic and take the test.
The question of whether one is an introvert or extrovert has implications for us socially and politically.
Socially, extroverts will always have an advantage meeting people. I'm often a 100% introvert on these tests, and I fit the definition of someone who becomes absolutely exhausted and drained by trying to meet new people. Extrovert friends are constantly telling me to "put myself out there" and can't understand why I don't do as they suggest. The problem is that they aren't capable of understanding how difficult that step is for someone whose mind doesn't work as theirs does. The fact that "putting myself out there" is so difficult for me doesn't change the fact that I must find some way to meet people if I'm ever going to have a relationship. However, the notion that us lonely introverts are failing to take "easy steps" to improve our situation is just nonsense.
Politically, being an extrovert is an advantage for many kinds of activism. Knocking on doors or making phone calls for a candidate is much easier for an extrovert than an introvert. I've done a great deal of each in my efforts to promote Republican candidates, and both activities leave me physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I've been around other people who think that these activities are okay, and I've found that those people are typically more effective than I am.
In a short period of searching, I've found a couple of things on the web about this personality trait and how it relates to political views. They are at http://neuropolitics.org/defaultmar06.asp and http://www.personalitypage.com/political_affil.html .
This kind of thread wouldn't be complete without a self-test, and I've been looking at several on the web. Many seem pretty silly to me, but here's one that seems pretty good.
http://www.blogthings.com/areyouanextrovertorintrovertquiz/
If I were translating some of these questions into political terms, here are a few that I would use.
Would you prefer,
1. to give a speech to 100 people at a gathering to talk about an important issue in your community, or
2. to knock on 100 doors to ask people to vote for your side on that issue?
Would you prefer,
1. to write letters to your Congressional representative and senators about an issue, or
2. to go to a public rally to hold signs stating your views on the issue?
Would you rather,
1. have an impromptu discussion about an issue at a social gathering, or
2. write a commentary about that issue to be posted on a bulletin board.
I didn't participate in the threads that you did last year on the topic, but you appear to have put a great deal of work into making a very interesting series of threads. Thank you for that effort.
Bill
I’m an ENFP. Hubby was an ISTJ. Most of my kids are E’s. It helps when you are struggling in life, because it generally means you won’t necessarily be intimidated by whomever you have to deal with. It also makes you a good writer, as well as a good talker, and expressing yourself is easy. E’s usually have wacky senses of humor, too. This should be a fun thread.
Introvert.
That's an interesting thought. Many of the things that I've read say that introverts tend to be better writers while extroverts tend to be the talkers. In many ways, I agree with that conclusion. Writing is mostly a solitary activity that requires a great deal of delving into one's own mind to put together ideas and express them in words. Those are introvert characteristics. Talking is something that requires another person present and can be much more spontaneous.
One article that I read said that introverts are people who like to think before they talk while extroverts are people who believe that talking is thinking. That statement was probably written by an introvert trying to take a jab at extroverts, but I mentioned it to an extrovert at work. His response was that "thinking by talking" wasn't such a bad idea. I roll my eyes at that kind of of thought process, but apparently it works well for some people.
I'm not sure that introverts and extroverts have that different a sense of humor. I suspect that extroverts are more likely to express their funny thoughts more quickly, but I don't know that differences are truly generalized that way.
Bill
Is that based on the quiz or did you know already that you were an introvert?
It was just an answer to the big, bold question at the top (didn’t read much of the article beyond that when the comment was posted).
I’ve taken these personality tests several times over the years but decided to take it again tonight to see if anything has changed...nope, I’m still an ISFJ...
| You Are 0% Extrovert, 100% Introvert |
 You aren't one for social interaction And you limit your interaction to a select few Thank God for self checkout! |
Heh...actually, with people I know and in smallish groups, I can talk *too* much. And I don't mind making small talk at checkouts or when waiting in line at airports or such like. I'm just not good at talking to strangers or mingling at parties. I tend to be more comfortable attaching myself to someone who's more outgoing.
For most people, the test should be consistent over time. I’m one of the oddballs who varies because my answers come out about 50/50 on the S vs. N and J vs. P traits. As a result, I can be an ISTJ, an ISTP, an INTJ, and an INTP. In reality, the INTP description fits me most closely, and the others are highly flawed in some way.
According to the Jung test I’m an INTJ. Checking out the career choices, I think they pinned me pretty well, even though TV engineering is basically “turn it off, turn it back on, and see if it works again.” :)
To be honest it depends on the context and the social situation. As an example, it's always been easier for me--as an introvert--to express my humor in written form. It also gives me a chance to use my humor in some very unconventional ways.
...like, um this for example. :)
I used to be painfully shy... then I went into nursing. Broke me real good. *chuckle*
I'm actually BOTH an introvert and an extrovert -- depending on the circumstances. I tend to be an introvert with people I don't know, but among my friends, family, co-workers, etc. I am usually very extroverted.
Bill
What does the test show for you? From your description and what I've read in the explanations of these tests, I suspect that you will be an introvert. Rosie Cotton described similar feelings in a previous post, and she is a 100% introvert.
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