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It's definitely not a simple categorization like that though--some people are so introverted they almost need to completely isolate themselves from society. So

It's definitely not a simple categorization like that though--some people are so introverted they almost need to completely isolate themselves from society. Some people are barely introverted and require just a little time alone to gather themselves occasionally. I'm definitely both--I've had periods of my life where I can't detach myself from groups of people, and I've had periods of my life where I spend multiple days inside without going out. There are definitely some environmental factors. Introversion is tied in with neuroticism, which is definitely on a spectrum. The big five personality traits are also a spectrum.

jasode 7y ago
>Some people are barely introverted and require just a little time alone to gather themselves occasionally. If the behavior is occasional, that's not introversion or "barely introverted". E.g., if an extroverted-outgoing girl who is the cheerleader & prom queen & organizer of the 10-year high school renunion needs a few hours of alone time in her bedroom to cry because her boyfriend broke up with her, that does not mean the cheerleader is "barely introverted". She's also not 1% introverted and 99% extroverted. Sure, all humans need some alone time for various situations. But that's not what introversion _is_. And just because I attend social functions and smile and laugh with friends for a few hours doesn't mean I'm "somewhat extroverted". My baseline is introversion and even if I do activities that outwardly appear like extroversion, that does not change the baseline of my underlying tendencies. I have been playing the lower bass notes of the piano with my left hand for decades but that doesn't change my underlying right-handedness. My right hand is still the dominant hand.
- solinent 7y ago
  > And just because I attend social functions and smile and laugh with friends for a few hours doesn't mean I'm "somewhat extroverted". You sound pretty introverted, but it doesn't explain all behaviors, which is my intent. To do so, you have to also explain why sometimes I am introverted by your description, even for years at a time, and then at other times I am extroverted, with similar time scales. > If the behavior is occasional, that's not introversion or "barely introverted". I mean to say it's between occasional (extroversion), and constant (introversion). This means there's a certain probability of it happening, so you're right, it could be rarely, occasional, sometimes, most of the time, almost all of the time, and all of the time. So I don't disagree with you, you can make a clear demarcation, but then the words are much more useless. And if you're close to either side then you might as well call yourself an introvert or an extrovert.

jasode 7y ago

>Some people are barely introverted and require just a little time alone to gather themselves occasionally. If the behavior is occasional, that's not introversion or "barely introverted". E.g., if an extroverted-outgoing girl who is the cheerleader & prom queen & organizer of the 10-year high school renunion needs a few hours of alone time in her bedroom to cry because her boyfriend broke up with her, that does not mean the cheerleader is "barely introverted". She's also not 1% introverted and 99% extroverted. Sure, all humans need some alone time for various situations. But that's not what introversion _is_. And just because I attend social functions and smile and laugh with friends for a few hours doesn't mean I'm "somewhat extroverted". My baseline is introversion and even if I do activities that outwardly appear like extroversion, that does not change the baseline of my underlying tendencies. I have been playing the lower bass notes of the piano with my left hand for decades but that doesn't change my underlying right-handedness. My right hand is still the dominant hand.

solinent 7y ago
> And just because I attend social functions and smile and laugh with friends for a few hours doesn't mean I'm "somewhat extroverted". You sound pretty introverted, but it doesn't explain all behaviors, which is my intent. To do so, you have to also explain why sometimes I am introverted by your description, even for years at a time, and then at other times I am extroverted, with similar time scales. > If the behavior is occasional, that's not introversion or "barely introverted". I mean to say it's between occasional (extroversion), and constant (introversion). This means there's a certain probability of it happening, so you're right, it could be rarely, occasional, sometimes, most of the time, almost all of the time, and all of the time. So I don't disagree with you, you can make a clear demarcation, but then the words are much more useless. And if you're close to either side then you might as well call yourself an introvert or an extrovert.