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> I think extroversion and introversion are just orthogonal skill sets. The solution can simply be “get better at extroversion.” No. Introversion and extrover

> I think extroversion and introversion are just orthogonal skill sets. The solution can simply be “get better at extroversion.” No. Introversion and extroversion aren't skills, they're things that you are. You might as well say that the solution to being short is to just 'get better at being tall'. It doesn't work that way. Introversion is not shyness. Introversion is not social anxiety. Introversion means that you expend energy when you deal with other people, and extroverts gain energy when dealing with other people. I'm introverted by nature. I function perfectly well in social situations. I can do small talk, I can give presentations, the whole bit. But doing those things mentally wears me out. The bigger the group I'm dealing with is, the faster I get drained, and once my energy is drained I have to get some time away from the group to recharge. Extroverts are the opposite. Their mental batteries get drained by being alone, and they get charged up via social interactions.

Tycho 3y ago
“Energy”, “mental batteries” - these are entirely made up concepts. Any sort of activity is tiring - it is especially tiring if you aren’t very good at it, if you have to make a conscious effort rather than being so competent that it’s “second nature.”
- basscomm 3y ago
  > “Energy”, “mental batteries” - these are entirely made up concepts. Close. They're abstractions that I used to describe my experiences. I used them because I'm not trained in psychology and the analogies are close enough. > Any sort of activity is tiring - it is especially tiring if you aren’t very good at it, if you have to make a conscious effort rather than being so competent that it’s “second nature.” Correct. That has nothing to do with introversion, however. Being socially awkward doesn't (necessarily) mean that you're introverted. Introversion isn't something that can be changed with practice. Introversion can't be changed at all. Extroverts usually don't believe this. Note: I'm not using words 'improved' or 'overcome' here. Those words would imply that introversion is a problem that needs fixing or mitigating. It is not. It's a part of the rich tapestry of human existence.

Tycho 3y ago

“Energy”, “mental batteries” - these are entirely made up concepts. Any sort of activity is tiring - it is especially tiring if you aren’t very good at it, if you have to make a conscious effort rather than being so competent that it’s “second nature.”

basscomm 3y ago
> “Energy”, “mental batteries” - these are entirely made up concepts. Close. They're abstractions that I used to describe my experiences. I used them because I'm not trained in psychology and the analogies are close enough. > Any sort of activity is tiring - it is especially tiring if you aren’t very good at it, if you have to make a conscious effort rather than being so competent that it’s “second nature.” Correct. That has nothing to do with introversion, however. Being socially awkward doesn't (necessarily) mean that you're introverted. Introversion isn't something that can be changed with practice. Introversion can't be changed at all. Extroverts usually don't believe this. Note: I'm not using words 'improved' or 'overcome' here. Those words would imply that introversion is a problem that needs fixing or mitigating. It is not. It's a part of the rich tapestry of human existence.