3 ms·

Not trying to be pedantic but the literal meaning of introvert is someone who looks inside for approval or decision making.(Etymology "Intro"-in vert-"look").

Not trying to be pedantic but the literal meaning of introvert is someone who looks inside for approval or decision making.(Etymology "Intro"-in vert-"look"). You can be a very social person and have tons of friends etc etc but at the end of the day if you are not too affected by other's opinions about you then you are an introvert.Introverts are totally okay with being alone for extended periods of time as they very much enjoy the conversation they are having with themselves.But they can also go out and talk to people confidently if they so desire.(Yes there is probably some correlation between introversion and social anxiety especially in young people). On the other hand, extroverts who are looking outward for approval and decisions get depressed when they are lonely.This is not necessarily a bad thing.Personally I would have saved so much time if I had bounced my crazy ideas of someone else before going and implementing them. When it comes to leadership, both can be good leaders.A brilliant example of a very introverted leader is Steve Jobs and an excellent example of an extroverted leader is President Barack Obama.

jonnathanson 15y ago
Don't worry about, or apologize for, being pedantic. I rather enjoy it. While I appreciate your point about the literal meanings of the words "introvert" and "extrovert," I would submit that the axis around which both personality types hinge is not so much approval-seeking in specific, but rather, stimulus-seeking in general. Hence, my point about introverts needing or seeking less social stimulus, and extroverts needing and/or seeking more social stimulus. In the case you cite: "You can be a very social person and have tons of friends etc etc but at the end of the day if you are not too affected by other's opinions about you then you are an introvert." This is not wholly correct. Introverts can be affected by others' opinions, and indeed, some are very affected. I do agree, however, that it is entirely possible for an introvert to be sociable and to have a lot of friends. Conversely, it is entirely possible to find extroverts who lack social graces and thus, can count few friends. On the whole, however, I believe you and I are more in agreement than disagreement. I think we could both agree that the words have been twisted and overused demotically. And perhaps we'd also agree, as I believe, that the division into the world of "introverts" and "extroverts" as binary personality types represents a somewhat primitive and unsophisticated view of things -- regardless of how we choose to define those words.
- nodemaker 15y ago
  Yes I do agree on those things.I think MBTI somewhat tries to differentiate between types of introverts.For example the introvert INTP is very different from the introvert ISFJ. I guess I was referring to the I(NT) type introvert.The I(SF) or I(NF) type introverts are very different personalities indeed.
bh42222 15y ago
You can be a very social person and have tons of friends etc etc but at the end of the day if you are not too affected by other's opinions about you then you are an introvert. Source? I am introvert. And I also I am not affected by other people's opinions. Those two have nothing in common. Me being an introvert is not responsible for this. I also have a lot of friends and by all objective measures am very social. But after a lot of very fun and enjoyable social interaction I feel mentally tired and need alone time to recharge. That is ALL that introversion is. Extroversion on the other hand means you feel invigorated after social interaction. This has nothing to do with approval seeking behavior which is an entirely separate personality trait, which can be found in both extroverts and introverts.
- wisty 15y ago
  I think GP is arguing over the meaning (and etymology) of the term, not how introverts (which I would define as people would prefer their own company) behave. Definition debates over the meaning of 'introversion' are common, because the term is often used very badly. The most annoying definition is "good with people". There's no such thing - the star quarterback, class president, class drug dealer, guy who's dated every second girl in class, the couple who have been together for 3 years, the president of the math club, and the class comedian are all "good with people" in very different ways. People like to think there's a general skill of "being good with people", because they think that if they acquire it they'll be good with people. It's a combination of the "grass is greener" and "silver bullet" fantasies.
- nodemaker 15y ago
  The type of introversion I was referring to is found most commonly in INTJ people(and you sir most likely are one!).But yeah, other kinds of introverts exist too. http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/extraversion-or-introversion.asp http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-bas...
  - bh42222 15y ago
    The type of introversion I was referring to is found most commonly in INTJ people(and you sir most likely are one!). Yep, and my T preference is 55.
wisty 15y ago
I'm pretty sure that's Agreeableness, not Introversion. Often, the term "extrovert" is used to describe someone who prefers social gatherings, while "introverts" would be just as happy reading a book. You'd definitely describe Steve Jobs as a disagreeable leader, while Barack Obama is agreeable. And "prefers the company of others" is not an essential attribute of leaders. Belbin (one of the better leadership / teamwork gurus) suggests conscientious "Shapers" or creative "Plants" make the best leaders. Agreeableness (which you call Extroversion - the terminology doesn't really matter) doesn't seem to play a big part. Most management writers suggest that open communication and integrity are important in leadership roles, not a willingness to make smalltalk.

jonnathanson 15y ago

Don't worry about, or apologize for, being pedantic. I rather enjoy it. While I appreciate your point about the literal meanings of the words "introvert" and "extrovert," I would submit that the axis around which both personality types hinge is not so much approval-seeking in specific, but rather, stimulus-seeking in general. Hence, my point about introverts needing or seeking less social stimulus, and extroverts needing and/or seeking more social stimulus. In the case you cite: "You can be a very social person and have tons of friends etc etc but at the end of the day if you are not too affected by other's opinions about you then you are an introvert." This is not wholly correct. Introverts can be affected by others' opinions, and indeed, some are very affected. I do agree, however, that it is entirely possible for an introvert to be sociable and to have a lot of friends. Conversely, it is entirely possible to find extroverts who lack social graces and thus, can count few friends. On the whole, however, I believe you and I are more in agreement than disagreement. I think we could both agree that the words have been twisted and overused demotically. And perhaps we'd also agree, as I believe, that the division into the world of "introverts" and "extroverts" as binary personality types represents a somewhat primitive and unsophisticated view of things -- regardless of how we choose to define those words.

nodemaker 15y ago
Yes I do agree on those things.I think MBTI somewhat tries to differentiate between types of introverts.For example the introvert INTP is very different from the introvert ISFJ. I guess I was referring to the I(NT) type introvert.The I(SF) or I(NF) type introverts are very different personalities indeed.

bh42222 15y ago

You can be a very social person and have tons of friends etc etc but at the end of the day if you are not too affected by other's opinions about you then you are an introvert. Source? I am introvert. And I also I am not affected by other people's opinions. Those two have nothing in common. Me being an introvert is not responsible for this. I also have a lot of friends and by all objective measures am very social. But after a lot of very fun and enjoyable social interaction I feel mentally tired and need alone time to recharge. That is ALL that introversion is. Extroversion on the other hand means you feel invigorated after social interaction. This has nothing to do with approval seeking behavior which is an entirely separate personality trait, which can be found in both extroverts and introverts.

wisty 15y ago
I think GP is arguing over the meaning (and etymology) of the term, not how introverts (which I would define as people would prefer their own company) behave. Definition debates over the meaning of 'introversion' are common, because the term is often used very badly. The most annoying definition is "good with people". There's no such thing - the star quarterback, class president, class drug dealer, guy who's dated every second girl in class, the couple who have been together for 3 years, the president of the math club, and the class comedian are all "good with people" in very different ways. People like to think there's a general skill of "being good with people", because they think that if they acquire it they'll be good with people. It's a combination of the "grass is greener" and "silver bullet" fantasies.
nodemaker 15y ago
The type of introversion I was referring to is found most commonly in INTJ people(and you sir most likely are one!).But yeah, other kinds of introverts exist too. http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/extraversion-or-introversion.asp http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-bas...
- bh42222 15y ago
  The type of introversion I was referring to is found most commonly in INTJ people(and you sir most likely are one!). Yep, and my T preference is 55.

wisty 15y ago

I'm pretty sure that's Agreeableness, not Introversion. Often, the term "extrovert" is used to describe someone who prefers social gatherings, while "introverts" would be just as happy reading a book. You'd definitely describe Steve Jobs as a disagreeable leader, while Barack Obama is agreeable. And "prefers the company of others" is not an essential attribute of leaders. Belbin (one of the better leadership / teamwork gurus) suggests conscientious "Shapers" or creative "Plants" make the best leaders. Agreeableness (which you call Extroversion - the terminology doesn't really matter) doesn't seem to play a big part. Most management writers suggest that open communication and integrity are important in leadership roles, not a willingness to make smalltalk.