Are you an Introvert?

[SneakySnake]

How come there's no poll answer for me?

Neither, both or sometimes? Ahh what the hey. I don't know which one I am? Dy to day I feel different. I can be a party animal if I feel like it, or stay home on a Friday night by myself quite happily. Is there something wrong with me? Where's the diagnostic?

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

... Is there something wrong with me?

It could be that the answer to this question is entirely unrelated to the introversion/extroversion spectrum, Sneaky.

Where's the diagnostic?

I did an online Myers-Briggs type one once which was quite thorough. I'll see if I can locate it (of course, take all such things with the requisite grain of salt).

Cheers,
Marc

[dreams]

Very interesting article, Kenny. Thanks

Originally Posted by spellbanisher

As I understand it, introversion doesn't mean that a person doesn't enjoy socializing or the company of other people. It just means that socializing drains energy from introverts, whereas extroverts draw energy from socializing. So the question is, after barbecues or other social events, do you feel amped up or tired?

I had always wondered if there was some reason why I was so mentally exhausted by meetings and company dinners, yet I could hike or climb all day and not be tired at all.

Originally Posted by spellbanisher

As far as reading and extroversion, I'm not really sure how that works. Would an extrovert be exhausted by reading? As an introvert I find reading to be exhilarating. In fact, if I'm reading a really good book I tend to want to put the book down and walk (or run) around. But after any social situation I'm exhausted.

Ha! I thought I was crazy because I would sometimes do the same. It was like I had so much energy, I would explode if I didn't burn some off before I could read again. I can't read before bed because it makes me too full of energy. I have to turn the TV on, as that makes me go brain dead in about 5 or 10 minutes (as long as it's not a history program ).

[CazMar]

I guess someone who plays saxophone in a rock band can never be described as an introvert! Perhaps I'm an exhibitionist introvert.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

...Where's the diagnostic?

Okay, I found the old "Personal Assessment Inventory" (<---wikipedia link) test that was quite long and thorough. It's here:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/j5j/IPIP/
(There's a short and a long version... lots of provisos specified, so, as I said, grain of salt)

To give you an idea of the kind of results you end up with, here's mine from about 12 months ago:

EXTRAVERSION: 1% LOW
- Friendliness: 8% LOW
- Gregariousness: 0% LOW
- Assertiveness: 3% LOW
- Activity Level: 1% LOW
- Excitement Seeking: 4% LOW
- Cheerfulness: 15% LOW

AGREEABLENESS: 55%
- Trust: 20% LOW
- Morality: 80% HIGH
- Altruism: 25% LOW
- Cooperation: 31% LOW
- Modesty: 88% HIGH

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS: 45% AVERAGE
- Self-Efficacy: 75% HIGH
- Orderliness: 45% AVERAGE
- Dutifulness: 63% AVERAGE
- Achievement Striving: 11% LOW
- Self-Discipline: 1% LOW
- Cautiousness: 98% HIGH

NEUROTICISM: 99% HIGH
- Anxiety: 98% HIGH
- Anger: 81% HIGH
- Depression: 99% HIGH
- Self-Consciousness: 99% HIGH
- Immoderation: 99% HIGH
- Vulnerability: 82% HIGH

OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCE: 67% AVERAGE
- Imagination: 79% HIGH
- Artistic Interests: 63% AVERAGE
- Emotionality: 27% LOW
- Adventurousness: 16% LOW
- Intellect: 71% HIGH
- Liberalism: 94% HIGH


You'll note my EXTRAVERSION score is barely above flatline, but if you note it too much and too loudly then I'll draw your attention to my Anger score under NEUROTICISM and then punch you in the neck.

(I, of course, am totally joking about that last bit. Putting aside anything the above says about me, you can consider any threat of violence on my part to be submitted with an strongly ironic tongue in my cheek - fact is, I couldn't/wouldn't hurt a fly. )

Cheers,
Marc (though I could murder a curry right now)

[astra]

My forum title speaks for itself.

[nohmi2]

Originally Posted by JoelArnold

Yep, major introvert here. Married an extrovert, though, and amazingly enough, it's worked out quite well!

That is something that I can relate to.

Many would not believe it, but I fall into the introverted section.

Maybe having been an 'only' child I could keep myself entertained for hours with books, painting etc. If I am alone for extended periods of time, I am never bored.

I am actually a better listener than a chatterer.

The only thing that might rile me up is ignorant prejudice or injustice.

Cheers.

[Nexutix]

Aren't introverts smarter? They make their own decisions without the help of others. (No offence to extroverts.)

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by CazMar

I guess someone who plays saxophone in a rock band can never be described as an introvert! Perhaps I'm an exhibitionist introvert.

Van Morrison.....

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by patilsaurabhr

Aren't introverts smarter? They make their own decisions without the help of others.

Ah, but that doesn't mean they make smart decisions.

[kennyc]

Glad everyone is enjoying/interested in this one.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

How come there's no poll answer for me?

Neither, both or sometimes? Ahh what the hey. I don't know which one I am? Dy to day I feel different. I can be a party animal if I feel like it, or stay home on a Friday night by myself quite happily. Is there something wrong with me? Where's the diagnostic?

Cowboy.

[Kevin2960]

I'm a CLOSET introvert,

I like to push myself to the front so that No-One will notice my affliction !

[spellbanisher]

Originally Posted by CazMar

I guess someone who plays saxophone in a rock band can never be described as an introvert! Perhaps I'm an exhibitionist introvert.

You'd be surprise at how many performers are introverts. But it shouldn't be too surprising; excellence in any performance art requires thousands of hours of practice, much of which takes place in solitude. You can't practice your saxophone if your chatting it up all the time with your buddies. Performance art also can requires lots of thinking. Steve Martin, for example, would deeply analyze his comedy routine. After each performance he would note which parts of his routine drew the most laughs and which didn't. He then would theorize as to what made jokes funny, and then develop or refine jokes according to that theory. At the next performance he would again measure the number of laughs his new jokes received and continually refine his theory and jokes.

Public performance is also not a socially interactive activity. It requires extensive planning and practice, and a performer knows precisely what he is going to do before he does it. Additionally, the introvert is able to withdraw within himself, focusing solely on the performance; the audience fades away, leaving the artist in solitude on the stage.

[spellbanisher]

Anyone else constantly have voices in their head? Is that an introvert thing? or am I just crazy?