Characterizing introversion

[MichiganJFrog]

I don't know if this rings true for anyone else or not, but I found one person's description of how introversion plays out in social situations that matched mine almost perfectly: "I like that there are people around me, but I don't have to interact with them."

 

[intpz]

It depends on the people. In most cases, I don't. In some cases, I do (or would would be a more precise word). It's observation that we like.

 

[Architect]

Agree, with the caveat that 'at arms length' works for me

 

[lungs]

hah, yeah i've thought before that this is why i like things like aim or irc where i can just click "away" and check out and its kind of assumed that you're not expected to stay there and be polite and you have more freedom than in irl to just fade in and out and only talk when you want. its not so good to get too used it though. i mean eventually irl you just have to suck it up if you don't want to be lonely.

i like being in crowds, like at festivals or sports games, and just feeling the energy of people around me while simultaneously not being noticed and just doing my own thing. i don't think this is true for all introverts though. i'm not exactly sure what it is.

 

[ObliviousGenius]

I'm perfectly fine as long as I can stay inconspicuous. If I'm in a situation where I have to talk, answer questions, blend in, etc. I'll start to suffer. The people I'm around greatly varies that effect. I'm actually fine with the really talkative types as long as they don't expect me to talk as much as they do. The quieter ones give me more trouble because I have to expend more energy for them.

I really hate spending too much energy so I'll spend a little to save a lot wherever I can. I think this energy is what drives our thoughts and actions the most because there's more of what we won't do than what an extrovert would do when it comes to energy.

 

[briangriffin32]

When I was in my teens, I used to suffer terrible agoraphobia.

Before I turned 30 I moved to a city 10 times bigger than the one I grew up in. My parents thought I was crazy.

Now, I like being downtown in crowds where there are lots of people around. On the one hand, it makes me feel more active and less like a shut-in. On the other hand, it's easy to tune out annoying people around me either by escaping into my thoughts, tuning into my iPod or both.

I love you iPod!

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I have a positive attitude towards crowds, raves and clubs because of the anonymity and freedom in interaction.

But still I like my personal space and privacy. Only if I had to be in a social situation because of whatever reason, then yeah I'd prefer it large enough that I'm anonymous and practically free to do whatever.

 

[MichiganJFrog]

I moved to a city 10 times bigger than the one I grew up in. My parents thought I was crazy.

Now, I like being downtown in crowds where there are lots of people around. On the one hand, it makes me feel more active and less like a shut-in. On the other hand, it's easy to tune out annoying people around me either by escaping into my thoughts, tuning into my iPod or both.

I love you iPod!

Yes to all of the above. I finally moved to the big city four years ago and I am infinitely happier.

 

[psion]

I don't know if this rings true for anyone else or not, but I found one person's description of how introversion plays out in social situations that matched mine almost perfectly: "I like that there are people around me, but I don't have to interact with them."

This is exactly how I feel about relationships. So far women don't approve.

 

[MichiganJFrog]

Just finished watching this Hunter S. Thompson biopic. Despite his freewheeling ways, he struck me as an introvert, the reason being that there was clearly a lot more going on in his head than he was able to say at one time, and it obviously overwhelmed and frustrated him to no end. It seems like a key difference between I and E has to do with the ratio of thought to speech.

 

[Dapper Dan]

Just finished watching this Hunter S. Thompson biopic. Despite his freewheeling ways, he struck me as an introvert, the reason being that there was clearly a lot more going on in his head than he was able to say at one time, and it obviously overwhelmed and frustrated him to no end. It seems like a key difference between I and E has to do with the ratio of thought to speech.

I'd say it depends.

For us, yes, getting that information out of our heads is troublesome. But other types, like INTJs, have no problem getting that info out there thanks to that Te.

The problem with trying to describe introversion in such general terms is that there are four possible introverted functions, and each of them manifests very differently. Ti, Fi, Si, and Ni are all introverted, but lumping them together like that is dangerous.

 

[MichiganJFrog]

INTJs, have no problem getting that info out there thanks to that Te.

Interesting. I can think of a couple Is that might fit that description, but none who jump out at me just yet.

I have certainly known many cases where the opposite obtained: people who were adept at holding people's attention with the spoken word, but were hopeless when it came to the written word. One of them was a fairly well-known reporter for The Washington Post who ended up at the same newsletter mill as me. Growing up, I had always thought he was one of the most brilliant writers I had ever read, but when I had to edit some of his raw copy, I thought, "Jesus, is English your first language?" The guy could talk anyone's ear off and get them to do the same, but the task of turning it into workable prose fell to somebody else -- me or one of the other junior editors. It was then that I realized one of my purposes in life: rewrite.

there are four possible introverted functions, and each of them manifests very differently. Ti, Fi, Si, and Ni are all introverted

Maybe Thompson led with Fi, then. He had a powerful set of internal values that led him to do some extraordinary things, and also put him in a lot of danger. I could see how that would manifest a lot differently than Ti.

 

[NinjaSurfer]

I love to socialize
within settings that do not involve physical contact
meaning, internet forums are my form of socializing
and online multiplayer RPG games

I do know what it feels like to be an extravert
to crave leaving the house
needing to mingle and stuff
this is because I believe I have up and down swings due to mild bipolar symptoms
but 99% of the time I am an introvert

 

[MichiganJFrog]

Yeah, a lot of times if I need to mingle I go to the Mexican place down the street, order a burrito, and just sit there and absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of the place while I'm waiting, the same way they showed Glenn Gould doing in 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould.

 

[eagor]

i actually can't handle large crowds normally so i put on a facade to keep people away from me (stereotypical angry guy) though that may just be a mental disorder instead of just being an introvert.

 

[MichiganJFrog]

i actually can't handle large crowds normally so i put on a facade to keep people away from me (stereotypical angry guy) though that may just be a mental disorder instead of just being an introvert.

I've done that, too. I don't know whether to call it a disorder or a defense mechanism. The problem is that it works really well. These days, I just try to approach social situations by saying to myself, "I'll engage for a set amount of time, and then if I feel like I'm reaching my limit, I'll politely excuse myself." When that point comes depends on a lot of factors, such as how long I know the people I'm hanging out with and how comfortable I feel with them. I can socialize almost endlessly if the answers to those two questions are 1) a long time, and 2) very comfortable.