How Introspective Are You?

[TimeAsylums]

I am aware that there are other threads on introspection, but they do not contain the data for which I am seeking.

Please be aware:

introspection: the examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes.

=/= introversion

Awhile ago, I would have thought just as you would have, that introverts would be more geared towards introspection. False. I also looked at the S vs N dichotomy and E vs I. There is no constant, general correlation as far as I have reached. I know less introspective people than I do certain types. It's interesting really. Some people have some theories, but with all the people I've looked at, and personally asked them and they thought on it, I can't find many.

So, how introspective are you?

I have always been introspective. Always. Since I can remember. Much of my attention was focused inwardly like that, again not to be confused with introversion, although they are similar.


Please, do be honest with how much time/energy goes into observing your own thoughts/emotions.

 

[Cognisant]

I used to be very introspective, very interested in figuring myself out, that is until I figured out that whatever I thought was true about myself would (insofar as reality allows) become true, that my self consciousness is the narrator for the character that my brain portrays, if I think I'm a happy person I'll be a happy person, my life may be no different but I'll be happier with it.

Y'see post existential crisis you realize that you're not actually real, my body is a self propelling mechanism, my brain is a organ that performs a specific function in the overall functioning of the body's overall mechanistic function, this informational feedback loop of self conscious consciousness that I am serves to keep to keep everything in balance so that my body-function performs correctly.

In theory anyway

In actual fact I'm Cognisant, the virus, this body is supposed to be looking after itself, working hard to earn its place in society, making friends, seeking a partner for procreation, gathering resources for the betterment of its legacy, in short being Human. But our goals are opposed, I'm in control now and I want to do what's best for me, like any virus I want to spread, to evolve and diversify, I want more than anything humanity can offer me, I want it all.

Or this is just more BS I've written for my amusement

 

[TimeAsylums]

Or this is just more BS I've written for my amusement

existential crises were so elementary school

we're going to get so much cancer being so cool

 

[TimeAsylums]

want more than anything humanity can offer me, I want it all.

Also, I'm glad we're on the same page.

 

[Analyzer]

What is the difference of introversion and being introspective or looking inward?

 

[TimeAsylums]

What is the difference of introversion and being introspective or looking inward?

introspection: the examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes.

It is specifically on the observation or analyzing of one's thoughts and emotions.

Not just how things affect you, not necessarily looking at the why, but the how.


http://www.thefreedictionary.com/introversion :


Psychology The direction of or tendency to direct one's thoughts and feelings toward oneself.

introspection: the examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes.

Notice the difference, introspection is simply "toward" oneself. Whereas, introspection is the "about."

 

[TimeAsylums]

Notice the difference, introspection* is simply "toward" oneself. Whereas, introspection is the "about."

ffs.

Notice the difference, introversion is simply "toward" oneself. Whereas, introspection is the "about." (of)

corrected*

 

[Jennywocky]

Going by this definition ("introspection: the examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes"), I've always been highly introspective to the degree that external world activities were often shirked. A lot of my writing tracks the internal processes, I'm interested in how things impact me, and why and how I perceive them as I do.

I'm still always aware of what I'm thinking and doing and why; and at this stage after working at it I not just notice what I'm feeling but can put a name to it and track where it probably came from; but I do try actively to direct more energy outwards, in order to make myself more effective, since there are things I want to accomplish outside my own head nowadays.

To me, it's part of self-awareness to track inner processes, although I'm thinking now that self-awareness also includes the ability to see yourself as others might see you from the outside.

 

[Cherry Cola]

For me it's pretty much what Jennywocky wrote, always been big on meta-analyzing my cognition internally. It's hard not to go overboard with theorizing though, and I'm finding it a lot more challenging trying to understand why and what I feel as opposed to why I think the way I do and how I appear to others :O

 

[Puffy]

I'm so introspective, I'm not even here right now.

I don't think intelligence and introspection necessarily go together, as growing up I don't think I was ever that academically intelligent but I do think that I've been introspective for a long time. (maybe introspective = emotional intelligence?)

I think discovering Freud, Jung and psychological defense mechanisms was a big thing for me in school. As when any conflict had ever arisen it had always been my impulse to turn inwards, assess the feels, what I'm feeling, why I'm feeling, where the feels come from. Suddenly I had a lot of tools to use. It's very rare that I've experienced sustained anger since, as I immediately just think of all the irrational projections, past associations and all manner of mind-clutter that are feeding the situation, and it makes me try to find ways to discharge it. Also keeping tabs on my current psychological situation through dream journals etc (entering hazy territory.)

I think my basic philosophy that way is that you can help what you do to a greater extent than you can help what other people do. If you program yourself to find self-understanding in conflict, you'll be more patient, level-headed and fair in your interactions. Maybe I'm conflict avoidant.

One other thing that has come out of it is the difference between self-understanding and the ability to change yourself. Some very deep-seated roots have come up in me many times and in many situations, and with even great will I haven't been able to change them (yet). I think it takes extreme measures to truly change yourself in a non-cosmetic way...

 

[TimeAsylums]

I'm so introspective, I'm not even here right now.

ur so introspective, i got stoned from reading that

I (maybe introspective = emotional intelligence?)

I considered that as well, but alas that's something else entirely. Which can be seen on the Multiple Intelligence scale, which I thought might be correlated with Intrapersonal Intell, but idk yet. Just gathering info n data.

 

[Jennywocky]

ur so introspective, i got stoned from reading that

*throws more stones*

 

[TimeAsylums]

*throws more stones*

[bIMGx=250]http://thecripplegate.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/stoning-stephen.jpg[/bIMGx]

I just choked on my fucking apple because of you, fuck you.


That was legitimately funny.

 

[Jennywocky]

I just choked on my fucking apple because of you, fuck you.


That was legitimately funny.

There was even an extra dose of humor in equating you with a famous saint.

My work for today is done.
So long, and good night.

 

[Puffy]

^ ROFL

*sees timeasylums stoned on the floor. kicks a few pebbles around*

*considers picking up pebble*



*hyperventilates at possibility of expressing aggression and runs away to watch a horror film*



^ accurate Puffy scenario.

^ ROFL

*recursion repeat*

 

[Analyzer]

It is specifically on the observation or analyzing of one's thoughts and emotions.

Not just how things affect you, not necessarily looking at the why, but the how.


http://www.thefreedictionary.com/introversion :


Psychology The direction of or tendency to direct one's thoughts and feelings toward oneself.

introspection: the examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes.

Notice the difference, introspection is simply "toward" oneself. Whereas, introspection is the "about."

I see. Then I guess that means extroverts are superior as they can be introspective as much as introverts, but focus on the external. Introverts are more narrow or singular minded. ENTP > intp.

 

[TimeAsylums]

lol, Analyzer. I know you're just trolling. But idk why you'd derive a superiority from my post. I was simply stating the differences...

 

[redbaron]

Extremely.

 

[Analyzer]

lol, Analyzer. I know you're just trolling. But idk why you'd derive a superiority from my post. I was simply stating the differences...

Because your an ENTP, only the INTJ can match you when it comes to stuff like that.

 

[TimeAsylums]

Because your an ENTP, only the INTJ can match you when it comes to stuff like that.

err...what

 

[OldCoyote]

I've been known travel to the tree of life, meet the bear, then get the honey..... Wait.... What

Seriously, I can relate to the bear.... During seasons of high energy I'm usually roaming around, killing baby deer, and not given much thought to how/why I feel or think. Then that cold bitch of death shows up in the winter. That's when I retreat to my cave and hibernate- I.E think about "why did I kill that poor little deer, what did it feel like, did it really taste that good"..

Pretty much till spring... Then I go kill more baby deer...

Does that count?

 

[Grayman]

Most everything I do is coupled with introspection. I have little trust in myself instinctually. I tend to question every feeling and every thought that I have. I even do this when others do things around me and then see how I would react in their situation and how I would feel and what I would think. I rarely spend time just sitting there doing nothing while doing introspection. The best introspection is to question the feelings the moment you have them. Doing so later can cause more issues with misunderstanding yourself. I do not tend to remember things that I do not understand anyways, so it is important for the me to remember by understanding it the moment after it occurs.

In real life this constant thinking causes my reactions to severely delayed. It may seem odd to others. I tend to respond emotionally at a later time than others because I am processing the data and examining it thoroughly before deciding how I should feel.

Edit:

After all this, I realized I never gave an amount of time I spend on this. Well it is very dependent on how much time I spend online or with people talking. Introspection is not something I do while doing something that requires a lot of brain power already. I guess I do at least a half hour a day if you bunched it together. I spent more time when discovering myself often 4 hours of online discussion to determine my values. Now that I know my larger values it has changed considerably.

 

[Grayman]

err...what

wow, I thought you were ISFJ!?

I must say that by reading your description later to Analyzer I became further confused by what it is you are seeking.

Originally I felt I had known the definition of both without being able to put them into words. I was thinking that Introspection is the examination of the emotions and the feelings and the values of who we are and why these things are important to us.

Introversion was more of just being with oneself unless your are describing the MBTI functions as that is very different and not really applicable to the topic at hand.

I think even studying MBTI is applicable for introspection only so far as you are applying to yourself and making a comparison to how you yourself think. MBTI as a academic study and with that self examination is obviously not introspection.