Poll: Introverted or Extroverted?

[mattsonn]

There's been so much discussion on the topic lately, that I think it would be interesting to see what the "demographics" on this board are.

So let's see if this takes off at all.

As a general rule, which one would you say that you are?

And hey, just as a fun idea, state which one you are and your biggest interest/passion. For example:

Extroverted, sports

[Colm OReilly]

Extroverted, people.

Funny that I used to be terribly afraid of judgement, but my desire to connect with people was stronger than that so it led me to who I am today!

Lots of love,
Colm

[Light]

I'll be the first introvert to speak up.

Introverted, computers (but more broadly I'd say knowledge)

I'm introverted in that I rarely go and talk to someone new, but if they start talking with me first, I'm more than happy to talk. I quite like my time alone as well.

[Baltar]

Originally Posted by Light

Introverted, computers (but more broadly I'd say knowledge)

I'm pretty much the same, although I'd say: introverted, technology. I also love to learn stuff, history in particular but any other knowledge as well.

[mattsonn]

Thank you to whoever set up the actual poll.

Most introverts that I know are normal, reasonably social people. I suspect that the fundamental difference between the two types is smalller than most people think.

[Erki]

I'm probably slightly extroverted. I was heavily introverted, nearly anti-social when I was a child but nowadays I get along with people just fine. Interests: interesting things , like motorsport, other dynamic sports, knowledge, computer design, blogs...

[Parthon]

Hehe, a little bit like Erki for me.

I was very introverted when younger, in school and that. As soon as I wasn't forced to associate with people I didn't like however I "blossomed" and became an extrovert almost overnight. Went out a lot, talked to all sorts of people, chat rooms all the time.

Nowadays, I split roughly half half. Sometimes I like socialising, sometimes I like the me time.

And one thing I can do that even most extroverts can't: Strike up conversations with complete strangers with no fear or anxiety.

[Reyv]

Introverted, personal growth.

Becoming an extrovert is on my todo list though.

[openeyes]

Like others here, I'm a bit of a mix as I need and enjoy both time to myself and time around others. On the myers briggs now I usually score as an extrovert, and I feel perfectly comfortable speaking up in a group of any size on most any topic. My biggest interest is also personal growth. In that sense, many of my hobbies are simply means to an end, as I continually try new things to make myself stretch a bit. This past semester that's involved taking acting class, fencing, and jumping rope every day, improving a bit each time Oh, and I smile a lot.

[placebo]

introvert is a word that comes from two latin words, intro and vert. Intro means into or lead and verto is understand and interpret. When we put these two together introverted are people who use inner talk to understand the world around them. They are trying to explain the world to themselves.

On the other hand extra is outside. People who are extroverts in literal translation are those who explain to the outside.

I don't know how someone can be described only as intro or only as extro. What will you explain to the outside if you didn't explain it to yourself. We have periods in life when tend to have introverted or extroverted attitude. My friends noticed that when i quited playing basketball two years ago i became much more introverted. Also wen i play Championship manager, which is so addicting game, i feel a bit more introverted. Yes, i think i'm intro all my life but now i see that's not true and that's impossible.

It depends of your life phases are you open or closed. When we have time in our lives to think we are introverted but when it's time to act we act. At least that is the way it should be. If you feel you're not like that try finding new hobbies or changing your lifestyle. And then everything goes back to personal development isn't it?

[mattsonn]

Originally Posted by Parthon

...
And one thing I can do that even most extroverts can't: Strike up conversations with complete strangers with no fear or anxiety.

You're right. There are a lot of public situations, like waiting at a bus stop or walking through the mall, where an overwhelming majority of extroverts would feel uncomfortable talking to a stranger. Kudos to you for having that skill.

[Michael Chui]

Introverted; education.

Worth reading:

Socionics :: Extraversion / Introversion

[ScottLee]

Extroverted, creative media & relationships.

[Parthon]

Originally Posted by mattsonn

You're right. There are a lot of public situations, like waiting at a bus stop or walking through the mall, where an overwhelming majority of extroverts would feel uncomfortable talking to a stranger. Kudos to you for having that skill.

Thanks. It's something I picked up recently actually. I reflected apon how people are inherently scared of other people. All people are scared of all other people, in the whole world. We've built up our society so that we don't have to be scared of lions and tigers and bears(oh my), and so we spend our time being scared of people just like us. That seemed a little silly. There are of course the ones you have to watch out for, like the guy in a hockey mask with a machete, but 99% of people are regular people who are scared of each other.

When you see the ridiculousness behind that fact in life, that we are scared of each other because we are scared of each other, then it's so easy to just let it go and feel connected to everyone. Like the classic saying, a Stranger is just a Friend you haven't yet met.

[mattsonn]

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

Introverted; education.

Worth reading:

Socionics :: Extraversion / Introversion

You know, that article link was actually one of my inspirations in making this poll. There's a TON of interesting comparisions and other info in it.

[Mark Lapierre]

Originally Posted by mattsonn

You're right. There are a lot of public situations, like waiting at a bus stop or walking through the mall, where an overwhelming majority of extroverts would feel uncomfortable talking to a stranger. Kudos to you for having that skill.

Is it the talking that makes people uncomfortable, or the initiation? Personally, even though I'm an introvert, talking to strangers doesn't bother me. Some people make me feel uncomfortable, but the act of talking is no problem. However starting up a conversation is another matter. It's the fear of bothering someone else, and of not having something interesting to say.

Introverted; technology.

[mattsonn]

Good point, you may be on to something there.

[Cathy]

Originally Posted by Mark Lapierre

Is it the talking that makes people uncomfortable, or the initiation? Personally, even though I'm an introvert, talking to strangers doesn't bother me. Some people make me feel uncomfortable, but the act of talking is no problem. However starting up a conversation is another matter. It's the fear of bothering someone else, and of not having something interesting to say.

Introverted; technology.

I love this. I read this and saw myself. Exactly. Terrific summation.

Introverted, technology (& more recently business development)

[jpfieber]

Introverted, technology.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Parthon

Hehe, a little bit like Erki for me.

I was very introverted when younger, in school and that. As soon as I wasn't forced to associate with people I didn't like however I "blossomed" and became an extrovert almost overnight. Went out a lot, talked to all sorts of people, chat rooms all the time.

Nowadays, I split roughly half half. Sometimes I like socialising, sometimes I like the me time.

And one thing I can do that even most extroverts can't: Strike up conversations with complete strangers with no fear or anxiety.

Same here!

I consider myself an introvert with social skills. Nowadays, most people find it hard to believe that I'm actually an introvert. People who knew me before say I have completely changed.

I don't think I have BECOME an extrovert. I just act that way when I rationally decide that it is the best thing to do. If I would have really become an extrovert I probably wouldn't be able to do any computer programming or composing. I also doubt whether extroverts are conscious enough to think about personal development longer than 5 minutes. Just look at the poll. I don't think extroverts will ever out-number the introverts on this site, without anyone pushing them in the direction.

I'm still the same curious, friendly, patient and well-intended person.
But now I just let it show more often than I used to. I also act more assertive and take the lead whenever I can.

It's also fun to act as if you're loosing patience with someone, just for the positive effect. LOL

[Markus74]

mostly introverted & reading
the rest of the time: extroverted & sports

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by placebo

It depends of your life phases are you open or closed. When we have time in our lives to think we are introverted but when it's time to act we act. At least that is the way it should be. If you feel you're not like that try finding new hobbies or changing your lifestyle. And then everything goes back to personal development isn't it?

IMO, your answer to the following question is a strong indicator of whether you're an introvert or not:

Do you (voluntarily) talk about your personal problems with people outside of your family as soon as they occur?

Yes/sometimes -> Extrovert
No -> Introvert

[mattsonn]

Originally Posted by Bruno

I also doubt whether extroverts are conscious enough to think about personal development longer than 5 minutes. Just look at the poll. I don't think extroverts will ever out-number the introverts on this site, without anyone pushing them in the direction.

Wait........what's personal development?

[Erki]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Do you (voluntarily) talk about your personal problems with people outside of your family as soon as they occur?

Yes/sometimes -> Extrovert
No -> Introvert

What about talking about them with a good friend? I rarely talk to my family members about my err...problems.

[dorothy hanna]

I'm very introverted, and enjoy a lot of time alone. I do work with people, in my job, an I have no problem doing so, as I tend to be handling other peoples affairs, and a part of their life, and it has nothing to do with me, really, so it does not infringe on my privacy. I'm just a good handler, and I have a tendency to handle most things on my own.
The people I ahng around, when I do hang around with people are primarily family, or people I've know all my life.

There is a huge difference between introverts, and extraverts physiologically, in the brain. It is in how they process information, and outside stimuli.
It's very well explained in the book, "The introvert advantage", it has a lot more then just a personality quirk that displays itself with being alone etc...
Being anti-social has nothing in common with introversion, although, it is possable to find an anti-social intrivert.

Lots of incorrect info. about introverts. It's ussually thought of as a dark, and brooding character.

Check out the book. It's a fairly good read.

[jkmuller]

I think I would be introverted. I enjoy social interaction but at the same time I don't have a very strong drive to get out and interact with people. I think its interesting that so many of the people on this site are introverts, but it makes sense.

[Light]

This poll makes me wonder what the ratio of introvert to extravert is in the population.

[searstower]

It might be a good idea to clarify the definitions between introvert and extrovert as it sounds like many posters are using introvert & shy/extrovert & unfocused as synonyms.

According to my Psychology classes, the only real difference between the two is where you get your main energy bursts from.

Introvert gets more energized from doing things alone.
Extrovert gets more energized from doing things with people.

It's not uncommon to be an introvert and be the life of the party. It's just that we may take a break in the middle of the party for ourselves or spend time afterwards reading a book or something.

For the record, I'm an introvert; systems for positive change.

Rebecca

[mattsonn]

That's I figured. In contrast to what you described, I'm pretty low energy and not usually the life of the party type. But on the other hand, I need to be around other people. During times when I don't have that option, I turn to forums as a substitute.

...whereas, one of my friends who's introverted, while he has about the same social ability as me, he's capable of working for many hours at a time. And when he does take a break, he can just turn to computer games if he wants. Computer games?!?!

[Light]

Originally Posted by Light

This poll makes me wonder what the ratio of introvert to extravert is in the population.

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

Introverted; education.

Worth reading:

Socionics :: Extraversion / Introversion

I just noticed that at the bottom of this link, it says:

Based on these definitions, it was found that 75% of Americans are extraverts, and 25% introverts. American culture values extraverted qualities more, and people often feel like they've been given the 'short end of the stick' after receiving their results on extraversion/introversion tests. Using socionic definitions of these terms, however, my experience has shown that the numbers are practically equal — not only in the U.S., but also in Ukraine, Russia, Spain, and other countries I have visited.