• You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community, you will have access to additional post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), view blogs, respond to polls, upload content, and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free, so please join our community today! Just click here to register. You should turn your Ad Blocker off for this site or certain features may not work properly. If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us by clicking here.

[MBTI General] ENTP wants to get shy people to open up.

EricHanson

New member
Joined
Oct 15, 2009
Messages
67
MBTI Type
ENTP
I figure I'd post this on the NF forums because NFs are so much better at getting people to open up than I am. It's like an NF trait.

Recently, I have noticed that I have a lot of trouble getting people to open up, particularly determined shy people, and I find myself surrounded by them. I poke. I prod. I reveal more of myself. I act outrageous. I sit down next to them and engage in slow conversation. I tell them jokes. Play games. I ask questions. Nothing works.

Obviously I am doing something wrong. How do you get introverted people to open up to you?
 

ajblaise

Minister of Propagandhi
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
7,914
MBTI Type
INTP
Do they like you? You should probably take that into account.

I'm annoyed just by hearing all this. ;)
 

simulatedworld

Freshman Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
Messages
5,552
MBTI Type
ENTP
Enneagram
7w6
Instinctual Variant
sx/so
Convince them that you're worth investing energy in. Most introverts have a lower threshold for external stimulation and get overwhelmed by it more easily than extroverts.

Interacting with others requires more energy and concerted effort for them, so if they're ignoring you it's because you haven't engaged them in terms they understand/appreciate, and don't consider you worth expending energy on.
 

EricHanson

New member
Joined
Oct 15, 2009
Messages
67
MBTI Type
ENTP
Do they like you? You should probably take that into account.

I'm annoyed just by hearing all this. ;)

Happens whether they like, dislike, or feel neutral about me. I have trouble getting introverts to engage me beyond a shallow level. And I really like introverts.

Besides why does it matter whether they like me - part of the idea is to get them to like me.
 

ajblaise

Minister of Propagandhi
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
7,914
MBTI Type
INTP
Besides why does it matter whether they like me - part of the idea is to get them to like me.

Sometimes trying too hard is just digging yourself a bigger hole -- as far as getting people to like you goes.

Maybe try some more low-key strategies.
 

digesthisickness

✿ڿڰۣஇღ♥ wut ♥ღஇڿڰۣ✿
Joined
Apr 24, 2007
Messages
3,248
MBTI Type
ENTP
sometimes, i get lost in wanting too much to 'help' people, but i realize how much i hate it when others try to change me, and quickly catch myself and immediately back off. unless they ask me for my help/advice.

besides, last thing i want is a world full of 'me's.
 

Kasper

Diabolical
Joined
May 30, 2008
Messages
11,590
MBTI Type
ENTP
Enneagram
9w8
Instinctual Variant
so/sx
Obviously I am doing something wrong. How do you get introverted people to open up to you?

Do you understand them? Seems to me you don't. You need to understand them as individuals and not just try to get them to open up. On that note, what are your reasons for wanting them to open up? If it's not a genuine desire to get to know them for a lasting friendship then it's possible that they're reading that.

Some people are more protective of who they let in, they're slower to open up, check your behaviour but also see how they interact with others, are they normally guarded and private. It may be you, it may not be.

EricHanson said:
Besides why does it matter whether they like me - part of the idea is to get them to like me.

That's backwards for many people, extroverts may be fine with that approach but introverts generally require trust and friendship before they open up and share private things.

EricHanson said:
I poke. I prod. I reveal more of myself. I act outrageous. I sit down next to them and engage in slow conversation. I tell them jokes. Play games. I ask questions.

Also, if you mean that you try all those approaches on one person, that's probably the problem.
 

INTPness

New member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
2,157
MBTI Type
INTP
Enneagram
5w4
It's the poking and prodding you talk about that usually keeps me in my shell. When I don't know someone and they have a big personality (and/or they poke/prod), it just kind of freezes me in my tracks. I detach and observe. While I'm observing, I don't want the attention on me - because that means I can't observe because I have to participate. Let me observe, allow there to be moments of no talking, and it will come.

Reasons:
1. I want to know where you're coming from and that takes time (usually multiple times hanging out with you). Are you just an egotistical person that's going to make me feel uncomfortable every time we get together, or am I going to be able to really relax and be myself around you (and you'll be cool with my introversion and who I am)? That's a big one. I hate hearing stuff like, "he's so quiet", "he's this", "he's that". I wanna know that the person is cool with me being me.

2. I know it's going to take a lot of mental energy to engage you in back-and-forthness all night. I want to pace myself and pick my spots to engage.

The quickest way I will open up in these situations is if the person has some N. Start talking about intellectual stuff or going in-depth on a given social topic or something along those lines and, as they say, "it's on like Donkey Kong". But, that's probably different with type. I know an ISTP, for insance, who only opens up once you show that you are funny. I know an ISFJ who only opens up once she knows she has something in common with you and can trust you.

But, if it's just stuff like, "why are you so quiet?" "Why are you shy?" "Say something or I'm just going to stare at you and make you feel uncomfortable". Just isn't going to work. That just shows that you're willing to make the introvert uncomfortable, and that makes them not want to trust you in a sense. Show that you can be funny and all that, but not at their expense and not if they seem to be somewhat uncomfortable. Take it easy on them, and they'll open up in time (maybe not the first time you hang out with them either). Let it come out on their terms, not yours.
 

INTPness

New member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
2,157
MBTI Type
INTP
Enneagram
5w4
Oh and just because we are detached and quiet does not necessarily mean that we aren't enjoying your presence. Don't presume to know what we're thinking. I think that's the part that messes with the minds of extroverts. We can be totally quiet with almost no facial expression, but really intrigued or laughing inside.

The key to reading me when I'm detached is if you can tell that I'm listening. If you can tell I'm listening, then I'm probably interested in what is being said. But, if you're in mid-sentence and I'm looking around for the waitress or just generally zoning out ("huh? what? me?") then I'm most likely bored out of my mind or just ready to go home and re-charge the battery pack.
 

Thalassa

Permabanned
Joined
May 3, 2009
Messages
25,183
MBTI Type
ISFP
Enneagram
6w7
Instinctual Variant
sx
I figure I'd post this on the NF forums because NFs are so much better at getting people to open up than I am. It's like an NF trait.

Recently, I have noticed that I have a lot of trouble getting people to open up, particularly determined shy people, and I find myself surrounded by them. I poke. I prod. I reveal more of myself. I act outrageous. I sit down next to them and engage in slow conversation. I tell them jokes. Play games. I ask questions. Nothing works.

Obviously I am doing something wrong. How do you get introverted people to open up to you?

I'm thinking it depends on your motives. I only do this with people I really want to get to know. I don't just go around poking at shy people - I only put effort into the kind of thing you're talking about with particular individuals. It's because I specifically see something of value in that individual.

What you're doing, on the other hand, sounds like "the me show." Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears your motive is just to get shy people in general to like you. Why do you want them to open up? For your own gratification? Or because you want to get to know particular individuals better?
 

thisGuy

New member
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
1,187
MBTI Type
entp
you make more friends in two days by becoming interested in them than in two months trying to get them to be interested in you
 

Kasper

Diabolical
Joined
May 30, 2008
Messages
11,590
MBTI Type
ENTP
Enneagram
9w8
Instinctual Variant
so/sx
you make more friends in two days by becoming interested in them than in two months trying to get them to be interested in you

Succinct and true.
 

EricHanson

New member
Joined
Oct 15, 2009
Messages
67
MBTI Type
ENTP
I'm thinking it depends on your motives. I only do this with people I really want to get to know. I don't just go around poking at shy people - I only put effort into the kind of thing you're talking about with particular individuals. It's because I specifically see something of value in that individual.

What you're doing, on the other hand, sounds like "the me show." Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears your motive is just to get shy people in general to like you. Why do you want them to open up? For your own gratification? Or because you want to get to know particular individuals better?

The whole point of me trying to get people to open up is to try and get to know them better. Often times with introverts, it's hard to get to know who the people are because sometimes they hide so much of themselves from the public (that's why I poke and prod), and every time I don't manage to get to know someone I interact with a lot, I feel like its a missed opportunity and it hurts me because I always think - if only I tried harder. Why I feel this way, I don't know? Maybe its because I feel like I've missed some of the beauty in this world because of my inattention or inadequacy.

I do all those things, poke and prod, make jokes, have conversations, ask questions, in a very gentle manner....with most people...and still it often doesn't work.

Sometimes I also wish to help individuals that I care about who are hurting, usually INFPs, but I find that I am often unable to access them.

I just want to be able to get some shy people to open up. Maybe because I want to establish closer relationships to them. Maybe because I just want to get to know who they are. Frankly, I feel its a skill I need to be able to have.

you make more friends in two days by becoming interested in them than in two months trying to get them to be interested in you

I wouldn't be trying to get them to open up if I wasn't interested in them.
 
B

brainheart

Guest
The whole point of me trying to get people to open up is to try and get to know them better. Often times with introverts, it's hard to get to know who the people are because sometimes they hide so much of themselves from the public (that's why I poke and prod), and every time I don't manage to get to know someone I interact with a lot, I feel like its a missed opportunity and it hurts me because I always think - if only I tried harder. Why I feel this way, I don't know? Maybe its because I feel like I've missed some of the beauty in this world because of my inadequacy.

I do all those things, poke and prod, make jokes, have conversations, ask questions, in a very gentle manner...well at least some of the time....with some people...and still it often doesn't work.

Sometimes I also wish to help individuals that I care about who are hurting, INFPs, but I find that I am often unable to access them.

I just want to be able to get some shy people to open up. Maybe because I want to establish closer relationships to them. Maybe because I just want to get to know who they are.

I wouldn't be trying to get them to open up if I wasn't interested in them.

I relate to this all ridiculously well. But I have lost one friend (at least) due to 'trying to hard'. Many introverts really get turned off by this. I get turned off by it sometimes myself, but I think I'm a little more lenient.

However, like you said, I have an INFP friend (different than the one I mentioned in the prior paragraph) who just went into a psych ward for bipolar- something I totally saw happening- but she opened up so little with me and I didn't want to be too nosy or pushy, due to my not wanting to lose another friend. But if I had... maybe her situation wouldn't have gotten so bad.

Then again, when she did talk I found myself blabbing about it to her husband which she viewed as a breach of friendship. I think introverts take their privacy very seriously. (But it could also have been the mania talking, and I also felt a serious conflict of interest, considering I also value her husband as a friend and I wasn't going to lie when he asked questions. Me and my principles...)
 

Thalassa

Permabanned
Joined
May 3, 2009
Messages
25,183
MBTI Type
ISFP
Enneagram
6w7
Instinctual Variant
sx
The whole point of me trying to get people to open up is to try and get to know them better. Often times with introverts, it's hard to get to know who the people are because sometimes they hide so much of themselves from the public (that's why I poke and prod), and every time I don't manage to get to know someone I interact with a lot, I feel like its a missed opportunity and it hurts me because I always think - if only I tried harder.

Yeah it's hard to know sometimes if you aren't trying hard enough or are trying too hard. I know that feeling, and it sucks.


Why I feel this way, I don't know? Maybe its because I feel like I've missed some of the beauty in this world because of my inattention or inadequacy.

I relate to this too.

I do all those things, poke and prod, make jokes, have conversations, ask questions, in a very gentle manner....with most people...and still it often doesn't work.

Sometimes I also wish to help individuals that I care about who are hurting, usually INFPs, but I find that I am often unable to access them.

What a marvelously unexpected thing for an ENTP to say....ha...sorry.

I just want to be able to get some shy people to open up. Maybe because I want to establish closer relationships to them. Maybe because I just want to get to know who they are. Frankly, I feel its a skill I need to be able to have.



I wouldn't be trying to get them to open up if I wasn't interested in them.

That's cool. You seem to be developing your Fe.

I relate to this all ridiculously well. But I have lost one friend (at least) due to 'trying to hard'. Many introverts really get turned off by this. I get turned off by it sometimes myself, but I think I'm a little more lenient.

However, like you said, I have an INFP friend (different than the one I mentioned in the prior paragraph) who just went into a psych ward for bipolar- something I totally saw happening- but she opened up so little with me and I didn't want to be too nosy or pushy, due to my not wanting to lose another friend. But if I had... maybe her situation wouldn't have gotten so bad.

Then again, when she did talk I found myself blabbing about it to her husband which she viewed as a breach of friendship. I think introverts take their privacy very seriously. (But it could also have been the mania talking, and I also felt a serious conflict of interest, considering I also value her husband as a friend and I wasn't going to lie when he asked questions. Me and my principles...)

Is there a possibility that this had more to do with her illness, and less with your own fault? Someone who goes into a psych ward for bipolar is not in the greatest mental state, and may change her mind or see things differently later.

I have that feeling too of not wanting to be too nosy or too pushy, because I really hate when people do that to me. I like to think that I can back off for a while, or entirely, if people want me to. On the other hand, apparently some people want you to keep trying. It can be crazy-making.
 

Mempy

Mamma said knock you out
Joined
Jul 29, 2007
Messages
2,227
It's the poking and prodding you talk about that usually keeps me in my shell. When I don't know someone and they have a big personality (and/or they poke/prod), it just kind of freezes me in my tracks. I detach and observe. While I'm observing, I don't want the attention on me - because that means I can't observe because I have to participate. Let me observe, allow there to be moments of no talking, and it will come.

Reasons:
1. I want to know where you're coming from and that takes time (usually multiple times hanging out with you). Are you just an egotistical person that's going to make me feel uncomfortable every time we get together, or am I going to be able to really relax and be myself around you (and you'll be cool with my introversion and who I am)? That's a big one. I hate hearing stuff like, "he's so quiet", "he's this", "he's that". I wanna know that the person is cool with me being me.

2. I know it's going to take a lot of mental energy to engage you in back-and-forthness all night. I want to pace myself and pick my spots to engage.

The quickest way I will open up in these situations is if the person has some N. Start talking about intellectual stuff or going in-depth on a given social topic or something along those lines and, as they say, "it's on like Donkey Kong". But, that's probably different with type. I know an ISTP, for insance, who only opens up once you show that you are funny. I know an ISFJ who only opens up once she knows she has something in common with you and can trust you.

But, if it's just stuff like, "why are you so quiet?" "Why are you shy?" "Say something or I'm just going to stare at you and make you feel uncomfortable". Just isn't going to work. That just shows that you're willing to make the introvert uncomfortable, and that makes them not want to trust you in a sense. Show that you can be funny and all that, but not at their expense and not if they seem to be somewhat uncomfortable. Take it easy on them, and they'll open up in time (maybe not the first time you hang out with them either). Let it come out on their terms, not yours.

Word. I need to know that someone isn't trying to change me. I need to know they like me for me. With men, I feel so much more comfortable when I know they're not interested in me romantically or sexually. If they don't make that clear, I'm always seeing their motives as suspect.

As you said, start talking about something--I hesitate to say it--"deep." I don't know what else to call it, though. But that's the ticket for me. People who actually think about things and reflect on things, people who turn over things in their minds and tinker with questions, people who see things wrong with the world and can passionately rant about them, those are the people I hang out with. We don't have to have deep conversation every time we hang out. In fact, my best friends and I frequently just get together to play Boggle or some other game, and nothing of substance comes up.

Also, I enjoy people who share my sense of humor or just like to do the same things I do. If we can do little more than take a trip to the grocery store for snacks, or Wal-mart for essentials, and then come back and watch The Office or South Park or anything funny like that for a few hours, and call it a good night, we can be friends. I'm not into bars and clubs, but then again, I've never been to either.

The whole point of me trying to get people to open up is to try and get to know them better. Often times with introverts, it's hard to get to know who the people are because sometimes they hide so much of themselves from the public (that's why I poke and prod), and every time I don't manage to get to know someone I interact with a lot, I feel like its a missed opportunity and it hurts me because I always think - if only I tried harder. Why I feel this way, I don't know? Maybe its because I feel like I've missed some of the beauty in this world because of my inattention or inadequacy.

I do all those things, poke and prod, make jokes, have conversations, ask questions, in a very gentle manner....with most people...and still it often doesn't work.

Sometimes I also wish to help individuals that I care about who are hurting, usually INFPs, but I find that I am often unable to access them.

I just want to be able to get some shy people to open up. Maybe because I want to establish closer relationships to them. Maybe because I just want to get to know who they are. Frankly, I feel its a skill I need to be able to have.

I relate to this. Introverts are difficult to open up, maybe especially for other introverts. An extrovert, especially a confident and assertive one, is persistent, and that's their biggest ally. If they don't lose patience completely or give up on the introvert, as long as the two people are compatible as friends, it will probably work out. They'll probably be friends. But introverts have a harder time being outgoing and pursuing other people, especially introverts that aren't confident in themselves.

My suggestion... might be to just have the goal of somewhat regularly hanging out with them. For an introvert, especially a studious or workaholic introvert, this may be once every two weeks--but for people like me, that's "regularly." Just have fun hanging out with them. Be genially persistent. Invite them over once a week. If you know they're shy, entice them with the knowledge that it'll be just you, them, and maybe one other person they've already met and seem to feel comfortable around. If there is no such third person, just let it be you and them.

There was an extroverted (seemingly, though he denies it) guy who, one day while we were partnered up in class, asked me for my AIM screen name. I think he asked for it because of something I said, something that made him interested in me. I might have said something about a theory I had about human behavior, but whatever it was, it made him tilt his chin up and regard me with curiosity. I could tell he was interested in me primarily intellectually, in that moment. It's why I asked him for his screen name (although it's possible I did it out of politeness).

So he messaged me one night on AIM and invited me over. It would have been more awkward, but he made it clear he wasn't interested in me romantically or sexually. And he's been pretty consistently asking if I want to hang out ever since then, which was several months ago. We've found some activities that we like. He doesn't have to have a ton of people over all the time. Usually it's just him, me, and maybe his roommate, and he knows I prefer that.

It takes time. It won't be instant. It might take them a while to warm up to you. They probably won't immediately start inviting you over, and they probably won't immediately start texting or calling you to hang out. But if you can find things to do and things to talk about that you both like... INTPness made the insightful comment that it varies widely from introvert to introvert.

If it's an IN, you can bet they'll probably enjoy engaging you in rigorous intellectual conversation. But find their nerve, if you can. And find mutually enjoyable activities. And be gently persistent. Don't put in too much effort, because that can get annoying and make you seem needy, but make it clear you're interested in them as a friend and like hanging out with them, enough that you'll go a bit out of your way to invite them over and make them comfortable.

I'm an INFP, if that makes any difference.
 

Laurie

Was E.laur
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
6,072
MBTI Type
ENFP
Enneagram
7w6
Sounds like you are pushing too hard. I hate to say it but it's just a natural thing for me, I really don't know what I "do."
 

Chunes

New member
Joined
Sep 9, 2009
Messages
364
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
9w1
I poke. I prod. I reveal more of myself. I act outrageous. I sit down next to them and engage in slow conversation. I tell them jokes. Play games. I ask questions. Nothing works.

That would cause me to remain quiet, too. You're too overt and demanding.
 

digesthisickness

✿ڿڰۣஇღ♥ wut ♥ღஇڿڰۣ✿
Joined
Apr 24, 2007
Messages
3,248
MBTI Type
ENTP
That would cause me to remain quiet, too. You're too overt and demanding.

i'm an ENTP, and that would not only cause me to see them at best, as a fleeting curiosity meant to not be taken seriously, but at worst, and more likely, annoying as shit.

what the hell happened to being drawn to seeing things from different perspectives? aren't ENTPs supposed to be inclined to doing that? wouldn't that include seeing yourself as others likely see you?

and, what happened to valuing autonomy? something else ENTPs are huge on. that doesn't mean one's own, but everyone else's also.

just... wow.
 

cascadeco

New member
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
9,083
MBTI Type
INFJ
Enneagram
9w1
Instinctual Variant
sp/sx
The whole point of me trying to get people to open up is to try and get to know them better. Often times with introverts, it's hard to get to know who the people are because sometimes they hide so much of themselves from the public (that's why I poke and prod), and every time I don't manage to get to know someone I interact with a lot, I feel like its a missed opportunity and it hurts me because I always think - if only I tried harder.

I think first of all you need to accept that you can't change peoples' basic nature, and if you're wishing they'd be more open - more naturally open - then you're wishing them to be someone they aren't.

So it's important to keep in mind that introverts tend to open up in their own space, in their own time, and it's largely based on trust - do they trust YOU enough to share with you? The trust is really the key thing imo; if the trust has been established right away, then yeah, you might develop a deep bond right away; otherwise if it takes a while for them to feel you out and decide you're o.k. and are here to stay and won't treat whatever they say in a callous or flippant manner, then it'll take a while, period.

Sometimes the more you push, the more that person (the introvert) will feel disrespected, stifled, and strained - they won't feel you're accepting of them, and their natural quietness, to begin with, so right there you have an absence of trust.


I do all those things, poke and prod, make jokes, have conversations, ask questions, in a very gentle manner....with most people...and still it often doesn't work.

Sometimes it won't work. You're NOT going to connect with everyone. I think that's the other thing you really need to accept.

As for myself, I actually like people asking questions of me, simply because most people DON'T. Most people like talking about themselves, so when I have someone who actually demonstrates an interest in getting to know me, I eat it up. That said, of course the trust needs to be there for me to really open up.

Depends what you're asking, too. If you're asking super-personal questions like their greatest fears in life, or their relationship history, or stuff like that, not many people (even extroverts) are gonna openly bite on that and be really honest and raw in their answers.

I just want to be able to get some shy people to open up. Maybe because I want to establish closer relationships to them. Maybe because I just want to get to know who they are. Frankly, I feel its a skill I need to be able to have.

I'm thinking you might be projecting your dislike of them being shy (by trying to forcibly obtain information from them in YOUR time - not giving them the space/permission to open up when they're ready), which like I said above is going to immediately set the tone and make them less likely to feel accepted, and therefore they won't feel terribly inclined to open up to you. So if you ask something about them and they don't say much or don't elaborate, then you've learned they don't feel like talking about that subject right now, and you can change the subject at that point.
 
Top