Introversion ???

[djap]

I was just reading someone telling about me and this one word there is driving me mad.
Introversion.
What does that word mean? Couldn't find it from any dictionary and even google couldn't give me any explanation about it so I would realy appreciate it if someone here could give me a short explanation what it means.

[techieMoe]

A form of the word introvert, which basically means "focused on oneself, inward". Here are some definitions:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dic...Word=introvert
http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dicti...h&va=introvert

It's not an insult. People are generally either introverted (sometimes considered the same as "shy" or "quiet") or they're extraverted ("life of the party", incredibly social).

[djap]

Thanks techieMoe!

No I didn't think that it would be an insult because of the friendly tone of the thing as a whole.
However this one word just started realy bothering me since I couldn't find it anywhere. I think I couldn't even have got any sleep next night if this one would have stayed unsolved so thanks once again.

"shy" and "quiet" does fit me quite good.

[fingal]

I think the words introvert and extrovert were coined by Carl Jung who was one of the fathers of psychoanalysis. He believed that dreams contained a huge amount of meaning, and tried to interpret them so that he could cure mental illnesses.

I used to be heavily into Jung. The problem is that he's popular with new age types etc. and I don't think he's widely read about. If you want to understand about dreams, he's your man!

[redbeard]

I think the words introvert and extrovert were coined by Carl Jung who was one of the fathers of psychoanalysis.

I wasn't aware that this was a term Jung had coined, but it makes sense. One very common use of the term today (actually both terms, intro and extro) has to do with the Meyers-Briggs (sp?) personality profile model, and my understanding is they were students of Jung.

In common use I've found that introvert tends to be used as a negative description of someone. The idea (as expressed by extroverts ) is that introverts are self absorbed. As Meyers-Briggs uses the term, introverts are people who tend to prefer to associate with a smaller group of people, but often at a more intense level. By the same model, extroverts prefer be around lots of people but at a more casual level. There are also tendencies in how the two types absorb and communicate information. Extroverts are more likely to form their thoughts while they are speaking (the act of speaking is part of the process), while introverts tend to compose what they will say before they begin speaking. I'm not really doing their description justice here though.

For the record, my own Meyers-Briggs profile indicates I am very much on the introvert side of the scale. I happen to really like this model because it both helped me understand how I tend to process information, communicate, etc compared with others and it also taught me to respect not only my own strengths but also the strengths of those who think differently (ie extroverts).

[djap]

I wasn't aware that this was a term Jung had coined, but it makes sense. One very common use of the term today (actually both terms, intro and extro) has to do with the Meyers-Briggs (sp?) personality profile model, and my understanding is they were students of Jung.

In common use I've found that introvert tends to be used as a negative description of someone. The idea (as expressed by extroverts ) is that introverts are self absorbed. As Meyers-Briggs uses the term, introverts are people who tend to prefer to associate with a smaller group of people, but often at a more intense level. By the same model, extroverts prefer be around lots of people but at a more casual level. There are also tendencies in how the two types absorb and communicate information. Extroverts are more likely to form their thoughts while they are speaking (the act of speaking is part of the process), while introverts tend to compose what they will say before they begin speaking. I'm not really doing their description justice here though.

For the record, my own Meyers-Briggs profile indicates I am very much on the introvert side of the scale. I happen to really like this model because it both helped me understand how I tend to process information, communicate, etc compared with others and it also taught me to respect not only my own strengths but also the strengths of those who think differently (ie extroverts).

So introverts tend to have smaler (but bether ) friend group and they tend to judge pretty carefully about should they say something or not and how?
Hey! Thats me allso.

[fingal]

I would also fall into the category of 'introvert'. I do actually prefer smaller groups of people and I value intimacy and more intense - but healthy - relationships. On the one hand this is good: my friendships last longer (when I make them) and I am very good at reading other people with a view to communicating well with them.

On the other hand, if I go to a new place and don't know anyone, I have trouble breaking the ice and I have to use some techniques to get around this:

- Do a little conjuring trick as though practising it to myself
- Wear an unusual t-shirt (this works well for me)
- Go back to the same bar/pub over and over until people recognise me
- Walk around carrying an unusual object (but not an inflatable sheep)

I read a fair bit about Jung and found out that he was a difficult and complex man, but interesting. I could go on and on about that, but that would be overkill. If you are interested in Jung's 'archetypes', they are an interesting concept as they crop up everywhere when you start thinking along those lines.

[kirschkern]

Another interesting definition of introvert/extrovert I learnt recently is that in the Jungian/Myers-Briggs sense, it's technically supposed to be that introverts "recharge" their energies by being alone, and extroverts recharge by being around people. So you can have an outgoing introvert or a shy extrovert. The difference is just basically: after a rough day, would you want to spend time alone to relax, or go be around people for support? Or, do parties with lots of people energise you, or wear you out? I thought that was pretty interesting.

-me, an introvert. (INTP, to be specific)

[redbeard]

Another interesting definition of introvert/extrovert I learnt recently is that in the Jungian/Myers-Briggs sense, it's technically supposed to be that introverts "recharge" their energies by being alone, and extroverts recharge by being around people. So you can have an outgoing introvert or a shy extrovert. The difference is just basically: after a rough day, would you want to spend time alone to relax, or go be around people for support? Or, do parties with lots of people energise you, or wear you out? I thought that was pretty interesting.

-me, an introvert. (INTP, to be specific)

Good description! INTP eh? I thought I was the only one!

[kirschkern]

Good description! INTP eh? I thought I was the only one!

I'd bet there are quite a few on this site.