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.
Bill
A complete “J” would seem to mean that you are a much more organized person than I am.
That’s an interesting result. You’re pretty balanced on the first three traits and then strongly judging.
Gotta run for tonight, but I'll check in again tomorrow. This is a fascinating thread!
If you look at the interpretations on these websites, an "SJ" personality is what they call a "Guardian." That combination represents the people who keep things organized and moving forward. They aren't always the most creative folks, but the "make the trains run on time." They are the people who keep their yards looking very nice and pay all of their bills exactly on time.
I'd interpret your high "J" scores as meaning you guys are "pillars of society" type of guys.
Hi Bill.. great idea for a thread. I recall when alamo girl did this.. I have taken the test many times & will try to take it again over the weekend.. I am definitely Extrovert(no big surprise to those who know me well)
Jack/dave , older cats tend to do this. Some younger cats want to mark you however(lucky souls that own that cat)
When cali was unable to walk for 2 months it was a lot of incontinence & since she slept glued to me I had a lot of extra laundry & baths for both me & cali every day.
When she was healed, she became completely continent once more (PTL) and everyone is much happier.
she is 19 years old now
Here is what the T-mobile one came up on me and I agree with a lot of their comments
“””Eleanor, you’re an Observer!
This means you’re one of the more kind-hearted people around. You are unusually intuitive, and you probably understand yourself, as well as others. That also means you’re a good mediator — though you may prefer to spend more time on your own than most.
You are better equipped than many to steer your life in the right direction. Understanding more about the components of your personality will reveal unique information that even people like you might not realize. And the better you know yourself, the more confident you’ll be making decisions that affect your life.
And that’s just scratching the surface!”””
This survey does in many ways confirm what others have said about me, people that I respect so that is why I say this one seems fairly accurate.
Sorry I was not around last night Bill but was very tired after a long hard week at work.
I think maybe I am more extrovert than I appreciate but sometimes can be masked with a little bit of unsure or shyness which is not quite the same.
Once that is overcome then my extrovert character comes out, on the other hand one can sometimes be over extrovert to cover up shyness, so that is why I agree I am a mixture.
I came out as a ESFJ on the other test with the following comments:-
moderately expressed extravert
moderately expressed sensing personality
moderately expressed feeling personality
slightly expressed judging personality
Look forward to hopefully some pics
The writing thing Bill said was interesting because often even at work I have to key myself up to actually writing something other than a quick response. So maybe that is the extrovert part of my character coming through.
Did it again and again came up as a
ESFJ
With a score of this time - not sure if I answered the questioned extactly the same this time but over all still a ESFJ
17 19 44 1
My J was 1 too
I know this is an over generalization but from what I have seen throughout life it is fairly accurate.
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