How to determine introversion or extroversion

[Karma95]

The first part of your personality type is whether you prefer extroversion or introversion (this is important it determines the order of your cognitive functions for example Ti- Ne in the INTP or Ne-Ti in the ENTP) to determine whether you are introverted or extroverted decide where you get your energy internelly or externelly this might be difficult, there are introverts that appear to be extroverts or there maybe extroverts that are more reserved ( i am an example of this i actually thought i was introverted for some time). Now being extroverted doesn't mean you enjoy large groups of people it only means you are energized by your enviornment whereas an introvert would enjoy being alone which would cause them to appear distant or cold. A partership between these types would be a classic Calvin and Hobbes story where one would view the other as to impulsive not thinking things through, too loud, and obnoxious at times where on the other hand the other would accuse the other of over thinking things, being distant, and absent minded. Now remeber these are only stereotypes they don't apply to everyone. I hope this helps!

 

[KatharineML]

Hi - yes this is an issue I struggle with. The truth is, when WITH people I am warm and 'close' (as in, not emotionally distant). I do enjoy being with people but I never instigate it and also love to be on my own - being on my own feels exhilarating because I can truly relax on my own (not sure whether this is an introverted characteristic, or a tired F characteristic?) I love to read and write, typically introverted activities, and do these things probably more than anything else. I don't like to talk on the phone and I don't do a great deal of networking or outside activities, though I do enjoy discussions with a few friends, and also parties, dancing and socialising etc. I definitely think things through and am not impulsive, but I do move quickly when I do things - I try to think and act as quickly and efficiently as possible (I don't like procrastinating or being indecisive though sometimes I find myself stuck in indecision!). I am definitely absent minded, but sharp when it comes to getting something wrong in principle.
So yeah, can you help with this?? How did you discover that you were an extrovert? What decided it for you? What are the main things you notice about extroverts that distinguish them from introverts?

 

[Karma95]

Katherine you bring up good points. You asked how i found out i was extroverted it was sort of difficult but their were lots of giveaways that i was extroverted one of them being my focus was always external meaning i had trouble being alone another reason why i thought i was introverted is i am shy, something you don't expect from an extrovert. To answer one of your questions differences between an introvert vs extrovert an introvert prefers to be alone but they may seem extroverted because they are more outgoing than the typical introvert an extrovert gains energy from interaction but they can seem like introverts because they are shy or not very outgoing. I hope this helps!

 

[Mal12345]

Hi - yes this is an issue I struggle with. The truth is, when WITH people I am warm and 'close' (as in, not emotionally distant). I do enjoy being with people but I never instigate it and also love to be on my own - being on my own feels exhilarating because I can truly relax on my own (not sure whether this is an introverted characteristic, or a tired F characteristic?) I love to read and write, typically introverted activities, and do these things probably more than anything else. I don't like to talk on the phone and I don't do a great deal of networking or outside activities, though I do enjoy discussions with a few friends, and also parties, dancing and socialising etc. I definitely think things through and am not impulsive, but I do move quickly when I do things - I try to think and act as quickly and efficiently as possible (I don't like procrastinating or being indecisive though sometimes I find myself stuck in indecision!). I am definitely absent minded, but sharp when it comes to getting something wrong in principle.
So yeah, can you help with this?? How did you discover that you were an extrovert? What decided it for you? What are the main things you notice about extroverts that distinguish them from introverts?

Thinking that 'E' and 'I' have to do with sociability is a common error. Karma95 believes that the E/I distinction has to do with shyness , but that's the same form of error. Sociability has nothing to do with it, whether one is socially shy or socially bold, or somewhere in between.

But she (or he? but I'm going with "she") also implies that the distinction depends on where you draw your energy from, the internal or the external. For example, I am energized by internal ideas, but I lose energy when dealing with the external world, especially the social world.

 

[KatharineML]

Thinking that 'E' and 'I' have to do with sociability is a common error. Karma95 believes that the E/I distinction has to do with shyness , but that's the same form of error. Sociability has nothing to do with it, whether one is socially shy or socially bold, or somewhere in between.

But she (or he? but I'm going with "she") also implies that the distinction depends on where you draw your energy from, the internal or the external. For example, I am energized by internal ideas, but I lose energy when dealing with the external world, especially the social world.

Hi Mal - so would you say is it only Fe leading extroverts who are the 'social' ones, and all others could well be as anti-social (or not) as an introvert?
Also - I would say I am energised by internal ideas also, but people often stimulate these ideas, which means I do enjoy social contact. How can you tell what energises you, really? It's hard to be clear on that one I think. How do YOU figure it?

 

[Mal12345]

Hi Mal - so would you say is it only Fe leading extroverts who are the 'social' ones, and all others could well be as anti-social (or not) as an introvert?
Also - I would say I am energised by internal ideas also, but people often stimulate these ideas, which means I do enjoy social contact. How can you tell what energises you, really? It's hard to be clear on that one I think. How do YOU figure it?

I become physically and mentally tired when I'm around people for too long. Externalities can stimulate ideas in me, but the ideas are what bring me energy.

 

[Karma95]

When i mentioned shyness my real intention was to get across that both extroverts and introverts can be shy i didn't really use it to help distinguish extroversion or introversion my real point was that how extroverts and introverts get their energy is different.

 

[Lark]

Thinking that 'E' and 'I' have to do with sociability is a common error. Karma95 believes that the E/I distinction has to do with shyness , but that's the same form of error. Sociability has nothing to do with it, whether one is socially shy or socially bold, or somewhere in between.

But she (or he? but I'm going with "she") also implies that the distinction depends on where you draw your energy from, the internal or the external. For example, I am energized by internal ideas, but I lose energy when dealing with the external world, especially the social world.

So the distinction is really between internalisers and externalisers? Whether people have an internal or external locus of self?

That's interesting but I'm sort of inclined to see it as part and parcel of the whole introversion ascendent trend in thinking.

 

[Mal12345]

So the distinction is really between internalisers and externalisers? Whether people have an internal or external locus of self?

That's interesting but I'm sort of inclined to see it as part and parcel of the whole introversion ascendent trend in thinking.

If only that idea was useful for determining I vs. E.