Thread: Introversion.

Originally Posted by rsser

Scott, Myers-Briggs told me a lot that I recognised in myself. (I've done a lot of inventories for professional purposes.)

Extra/introversion in Jungian psychology is a scale with a specific meaning somewhat different from popular use: My MBTI Personality Type - MBTI Basics - Extraversion or Introversion

I did the same test as well and apparently I'm deep into the introvert side of things. Jung's teachings always struck a chord with me at Uni, more so than Freud.

Bill, see post #24.

Same here Scott. MBTI is based on Jung's psychological types (see the book of that name). In fact neither Myers nor Briggs was a psych.

Bear in mind there are 3 other scales in it which IMO are equally instructive.

I personally don't care about these test thingies that try and stick me in a box, because I confuse the hell out of anyone that tries to pigeonhole me.

Foo

I've had a tendancy towards being introvert for as far back as I can remember. Now from what my psychologist has told me being introverted stems from in my case the lack of attachment to my father as a child leading to a negative self image and impaired social skills. Regarding the positive attachment theory, people that experience this tend to vary from mildly introverted/antisocial to the extreme cases being the mass murderer type. There is an amazing youtube video on a mafia hitman who is now on death row and is being questioned by a psychologist about his life. This is an extreme case but the video is well worth watching as for me, although frightening, showed up some of the things I had experience of in my own life.

Here is the link and a warning, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXgi72W2H7U , the video is a bit over two hours long but you like me just may see similarities in yourself which for me has led to answers.

My psychologist is very big on cognative behavior theory and has taught me techniques to help change my thinking about myself, my self image and self worth to the point where whilst I still like my own company I can now function in both small and large groups of people. He has also taught me about positive and negative thinking and how that effects our social behavior. In the past I often found myself actively seeking out the negative because it reinforced my self image and now with his teaching I actively seek out the positive because again as he has taught me, our brains can be retrained to think differently. My brain had been hardwired toward the negative antisocial behavior from childhood, thankfully not as bad as the "hitman" but when I asked the question about if I had not sort out help what would have happened to me the psychologists answer was as follows, "in two to five years time you most probably would have been dead or committed to a psychiatric ward for the rest of your life".

He has also taught me meditation techniques that help create a mental image of who and how I want to be in life in general and in specific situations. Whilst I haven't perfected these techniques yet its a definite work in progress and I can now say I don't cringe at the idea of being in a group of people either small of large.

Hope this helps,

Ross.

I like cognitive behavioral therapy too. If for nothing else than it teaches you that there is quite a number of reason behind other peoples actions, and jumping to negative conclusions isn't usually, if ever, the underlying reason. And its not all about you. They just might be tired. (My ex is very difficult to convince that anything but the negative explanation is even a possibility. )

I also think its a different thing to being an introvert.

I have no problem being an introvert bordering on antisocial.
I like being by myself and don't miss other peoples company.
About the closest I get to socialising is attending my hackerspace every week or so.
Apart from that, about the only people I speak to on a regular basis are the checkout ladies at Woolies.
Works for me and I can't see any reason or need for therapy.

Well for me, what other people think of me is none of my business.

Like a lot on here who have expressed their opinions, I too dislike crowds.

I have a fairly small group of close friends, male and female, who I socialise with very comfortably.

But put me in a large party full of strangers and I while I can handle it, I would rather be in my shed by myself.

I do not do facebook and keep track of a thousand people I once had a conversation with on the train.

From the responses in this thread there seem to be a lot of us here who feel very similar.

Maybe its that our hobby, and therefore the forum, attracts this type of person.

Cheers

Doug

As Doug has said, this Forum may be a meeting place for us "anti social" types. When I can get into the shed a just potter about either using the wood lathe or metal lathe or maybe a welding job. The only one I have to please is me (Boy that sounds selfish???). To have to perform to make someone else happy is.....well not for me.

One problem though being like I am (and the wife is the same) our kids have grown up not knowing a lot of people and not making a lot of friends. The eldest (27) is living in town in her own house but the youngest (23) is quite cluey especially with computers and has done 3 TAFE courses to get appropriate certificates but can't land that first job. She refuses point blank to do cash register work (mainly because she is so shy) and says that she just wants to work in a room and not have to deal with the public. I know exactly where she is coming from but I also feel for her because she is "getting to old" for a first job. As a condition of her dole she is a volunteer at a retirement home where she does office duties but its more than just that. She has to work with some older women but thankfully she really enjoys what they give her to do. And yes they get her to sort out computer problems as well and she really likes that.

Living in a country town (or out of town as we are) is great for me and the wife but not good for the daughter because there is little opportunity for computer work. Moving to "the big smoke" is an option that she doesn't want to contemplate. Yes I think we have inadvertently created an introvert/terribly shy person in her. It is a worry for us because we can't see any way out for her. Both she and her older sister have a good work ethic. When they are in a "work" environment they knuckle down and do an honest use of the time. Whether they got it from me, I don't know. I have taken them with me at different times to give me a hand to do a carpentry job and have proved to be a great help.

We did that!

Moving to "the big smoke" is an option

Moved to the big smoke - but the kids then left home, and went bush again!
You can take the kid outta the country, but you can't take the country outta the kid!

Originally Posted by Scott

Introverted.

Try this out:

Personality test based on C. Jung and I. Briggs Myers type theory

You'll have to scroll down a bit and there's around 70 odd questions. Interesting what it throws up though.

89% introvert. It appears I am in good company.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

I have no problem being an introvert bordering on antisocial.
I like being by myself and don't miss other peoples company.
About the closest I get to socialising is attending my hackerspace every week or so.
Apart from that, about the only people I speak to on a regular basis are the checkout ladies at Woolies.
Works for me and I can't see any reason or need for therapy.

You wouldn't have made the last comment if you'd read the full thread and links.

Originally Posted by Scott

Introverted.

Try this out:

Personality test based on C. Jung and I. Briggs Myers type theory

You'll have to scroll down a bit and there's around 70 odd questions. Interesting what it throws up though.

I just completed this survey. Mild to moderate persuasions in 3 of the 4 categories, but 100% score on introvert.

I am not a hermit - my work has me in daily communication with dozens of people (thankfully this is almost completely by phone and email, sharing an office with only 10 people).

But social situations are uncomfortable for me, and just about the worst thing in the world is having a bunch of people sing "happy birthday" to me. Don't know if others have the fear of this dreaded song. It represents everything awkward for an introvert - social situations, large gatherings of people, making you the focus of everyone's attention, and the added awkwardness of everyone singing...

My score:

Personality test based on C. Jung and I. Briggs Myers type theory

Introvert(56%) iNtuitive(38%) Thinking(88%) Judging(33%)

Interestingly, I remember doing this test when I was in the Army probably 20 years ago. and I was ENTP. I guess I have mellowed as I have matured.

Cheers

Doug

Did the test, interesting....

Introvert(22%) Sensing(1%) Thinking(1%) Judging(78%)

dunno what to make of that