Introvert? Extrovert?

[Amicale]

These are very generalized, basic characteristics, but for the purposes of this thread, they'll do.

Extroverts:
-have motives and actions that are directed outward.
-are more prone to action than contemplation.
-are typically very friendly to unknown people.
-feel empowered in social situations.

If you're an extrovert, you probably: really enjoy social settings; you have a large group of acquaintances and friends; you often make weekend plans that involve others; you're known to host events; you head up committees, chair meetings or belong to social groups; the word "party" interests you or makes you feel happy; you easily and willingly share your opinions with people in person; you talk with strangers and friends with a roughly equal level of comfort; the thought of having to make a personal or professional phonecall is either fun for you or is not a problem.

Introverts:
-have motives and actions that are directed inward.
-tend to be preoccupied with their own thoughts and feelings.
-minimize their contact with other people.
-often feel awkward in/ tired after social situations.

If you're an introvert, you probably: either dislike social settings or prefer smaller get-togethers with only one or two friends; you have a smaller more close-knit group of friends rather than a larger network; you often make weekend plans that involve either just your family, one close friend, or some "alone time" just for you; you aren't likely to host events, head up committees, chair meetings or belong to many if any social groups; the word "party" either disinterests you or makes you feel overwhelmed or anxious; you cannot easily share opinions with people in person, although you may do so with a very select few individuals; you are far more comfortable talking to friends than to strangers; the thought of having to make a personal or professional phonecall is not something you enjoy, or perhaps something you dread.


So....

Which are you? Introvert? Extrovert? Some of both? Neither? Explain.

[Buddy]

Total introvert. I hate being out with other people and a perfect night for me would be alone with either my horse or a book.

[Magdalena]

Introvert, I rather read in the forums than post.  ...and I'm happy with that.

[ibm]

Introvert AND male! Bad combination.

And I don't know how it got to be like that, maybe through education, maybe the genes. But I awkwardly try very hard to be like the extros.

[Amicale]

Hmm, so far three introverts.  Actually, make that four, so far. I'm also an introvert. Despite my post-whoring here on HAF, in person I'm very much an introvert. I'm the guy on the bottom of the picture in the OP, saying "Yay!" to staying in.  I occasionally like to see close friends, but big group settings overwhelm me and drain me. I prefer to work alone. My idea of fun is a cup of coffee and a good book.

[xSilverPhinx]

Introvert for me too. I'm not as much of a blabber-mouth IRL as I am in these forums.

[ThinkAnarchy]

Introvert. Although solitary confinement would probably make me go insane after an extended period of time. I need some social interaction on occasion, just not as much as most people.

[Whitney]

I use to be purely introverted but now I'm more of an extrovert...except that I still don't really enjoy making phone calls to people I don't know well (but do it almost every day anyway) and am slow to feel comfortable around new people (especially if I think they are important...like potential clients).  It took years for me to make the switch this far and I'm changing on purpose since extrovert qualities make business so much easier; or at least for my field it does.  I do still get mentally tired if I have to be social for too long with too many people...but it's not so bad anymore and I enjoy hosting large parties despite it.

[DeterminedJuliet]

I'm probably half and half? Can you choose that? I enjoy my alone time - I'll go anywhere by myself and I can definitely feel "over-peopled" sometimes (big family gatherings, work meetings, that kind of thing), but I get really antsy just sitting at home doing the same thing over and over again. Sooo, I like going out and I don't mind being in a crowd. I find it kind of therapeutic to go to a crowded place by myself, actually . And I like going to big parties, but I'm not the kind of person who needs to do everything with my friends or calls my pals on the phone every night. I also HATE board games / sports / organized stuff like that. I loathe group work, but I have no problem with following (reasonable) authority.

So I guess I'm kind of weird. Half and half. Final answer.

[Amicale]

I'm probably half and half? Can you choose that? I enjoy my alone time - I'll go anywhere by myself and I can definitely feel "over-peopled" sometimes (big family gatherings, work meetings, that kind of thing), but I get really antsy just sitting at home doing the same thing over and over again. Sooo, I like going out and I don't mind being in a crowd. I find it kind of therapeutic to go to a crowded place by myself, actually . And I like going to big parties, but I'm not the kind of person who needs to do everything with my friends or calls my pals on the phone every night. I also HATE board games / sports / organized stuff like that. I loathe group work, but I have no problem with following (reasonable) authority.

So I guess I'm kind of weird. Half and half. Final answer.

I understand where you're coming from, for sure! Some days, I do feel more extroverted -- I want to go out, look around, etc. I like wandering around on my own... although one of my favourite things to do is to head downtown and check out my favourite used book stores, which I know is a rather solitary activity.  But I also feel fine being in a large crowd. If anything, being in the middle of one makes me feel almost anonymous, and I'm fine with that. It IS therapeutic, in a way, although I couldn't quite say why.

I suppose some small part of me must be extroverted, because I'm definitely looking forward to hanging out with you!! 

[Ali]

I think I'm in the middle.  I actually quite like being by myself sometimes.  One of my very favorite things to do in the whole world is go out to eat in a restaurant by myself with a book.  I know a lot of people feel awkward about eating by themselves in restaurants, but I think it's sweet bliss to be waited on AND not have to share my appetizer AND read a book without people trying to talk to me.  *Sigh*

But, I also really like people.

[DeterminedJuliet]

I'm probably half and half? Can you choose that? I enjoy my alone time - I'll go anywhere by myself and I can definitely feel "over-peopled" sometimes (big family gatherings, work meetings, that kind of thing), but I get really antsy just sitting at home doing the same thing over and over again. Sooo, I like going out and I don't mind being in a crowd. I find it kind of therapeutic to go to a crowded place by myself, actually . And I like going to big parties, but I'm not the kind of person who needs to do everything with my friends or calls my pals on the phone every night. I also HATE board games / sports / organized stuff like that. I loathe group work, but I have no problem with following (reasonable) authority.

So I guess I'm kind of weird. Half and half. Final answer.

I understand where you're coming from, for sure! Some days, I do feel more extroverted -- I want to go out, look around, etc. I like wandering around on my own... although one of my favourite things to do is to head downtown and check out my favourite used book stores, which I know is a rather solitary activity.  But I also feel fine being in a large crowd. If anything, being in the middle of one makes me feel almost anonymous, and I'm fine with that. It IS therapeutic, in a way, although I couldn't quite say why.

I suppose some small part of me must be extroverted, because I'm definitely looking forward to hanging out with you!! 

That's true. I guess it doesn't really count as "extrovert" if I don't have to talk to anyone   Haha.
Well be intro-extroverts together!

[rainbowcat212]

I would have to say that I am an introvert. Once I get to know people I love to hang out with them, but I'm not very good with new people.

[hismikeness]

I feel like a few of the categories on this list of traits aren't necessarily opposing. I am the opposite of both opposites, in one case. What I'm trying to say is that it was difficult to place myself in one or the other category. So I just went down the list.

-have motives and actions that are directed outward.
-have motives and actions that are directed inward.

Obviously those oppose. I think I'm more outwardly focused, as I always have a yearning to help others, provided a few caveats. I'm a pretty big guy and have been asked to move a dresser or two in my day (it's why I've never owned a truck) and one time the girl I was helping didn't take everything out of the drawers. It was this 7 foot tall solid hard wood cabinet, an armoire I guess, full of shoes. Not full of shoes like this is how it always was, but more like the shoes had been packed in it as if it was a box, so don't open the drawers. It was heavy. So know, one of my caveats if you ask me to move furniture is don't pack any box you wouldn't lift yourself, and I'll be a big help with the furniture stuffs.

-are more prone to action than contemplation
-tend to be preoccupied with their own thoughts and feelings.

I am much more prone to contemplation than action. I've been more than once accused of being defensive. However, I'm much more preoccupied with the feelings of others, most specifically the one they have for me. I don't like it when I feel like someone doesn't like me.

-are typically very friendly to unknown people.
-minimize their contact with other people.

I try to always be friendly. I've found life to be much easier if I'm just nice to everybody. It's strange, because my physical presence being what it is, if I had a more aggressive and antagonistic personality it could be trouble. And I am too much of a pacifist for any of that to be something I crave. On the same (or other) hand, I do minimize contact with other people, especially in large unknown areas, like the airport or other large gatherings. I hate going to movies and restaurants alone. I will shop alone (groceries) but feel weird about having my headphones in while I do, but don't say a word to anyone or ask for any help or be more cordial than necessary at the cashier. I'm not rude and won't ignore anyone, but I don't feel overly comfortable being friendly with strangers at a grocery store. I would prefer a night alone to a night at most parties. I'd prefer a small gathering to either of those.

Humblebrag/ whatever my weirdnesses are as a person, as listed above, seem to work somehow because I always manage to meet and associate with nice people. I have decent close family members, and have always had solid groups of friends. I safely can say I have four best friends, five if little brother isn't in a separate category because of the siblingry.

-feel empowered in social situations.
-often feel awkward in/ tired after social situations.

This is the first one where I was like "yep, that one's me and that one isn't." I feel empowered in social situations. When I'm around groups of people, like standing in a long line, a large table, family gatherings, I tend to be the silly one; the class clown. I don't feel exhausted after situations unless they were something I didn't really want to do and it ended up sucking like I thought it would which is why I didn't want to go in the first place.

I guess I'm a little of both, some of neither but mostly introvert. So I'll go with introvert if I had to choose.

[Sandra Craft]

I occasionally like to see close friends, but big group settings overwhelm me and drain me. I prefer to work alone. My idea of fun is a cup of coffee and a good book.

Change that to a cup of tea and that's me all over.  I can get withdrawn around family and friends if I haven't seen them in awhile, which is a nuisance but otherwise I don't mind at all being introverted.  I find it restful.