Extrovert or Introvert

[Kevin Rector]

Discussion in the Sunday Night Service thread got me wondering what the folks of Naznet are regarding the Myers Briggs extrovert and introvert types. My theory is that the majority of people who spend very much time on message boards are typically introverts since the extroverts are probably out being with people instead of typing at them.

[Shea Zellweger]

intrextrovert, according to the MBTI. I consider myself an introvert who is very outgoing.

[Gina Stevenson]

Actually, there's more than one's personality deciding time spent on-line. Weather (hibernating-season, called "winter"), and finances (have "fun on-line" instead of $$$ to a concert, noting today's ticket prices, tho' that would be wonderful as a frequent thing for music lovers), etc, etc. Yes, even extroverts might just find themselves here more than were they living a "comfortable lifestyle" in a "pleasant clime," rather than a "restricted lifestyle" in an "abhorrent clime."

[David Graham]

My ministry psychological profile (which all ministers in my denomination have to undergo) portrays me as a natural extrovert. It's not a term which I would have chosen to use to define myself but, hey they're the experts????

I will say that I'm much more outgoing and confident now than I've ever been. I remember when I first went ot college back in the mid 1970's I was this shy and naive country boy, who never questioned people in authority. Not any more I'm happy to say!

Cheers,
Dave

[Scott Sherwood]

I am an E on Myers-Briggs, but barely. I put down that I am recharged by being alone, but I'm sure that is largely because my job demands a lot of people time. It is solitude that is hard to come by, which makes it seem like the more desired commodity. If my job were more solitary, I would guess that being with others would be more of a "charge" for me.

[Jon Bemis]

I'm an introverted extrovert - that is, people think I'm really extroverted, but to really recharge I need to be alone.

[Ryan Scott]

I don't like large groups, but I do often find myself energized by playing board games with a few friends. For anyone who's spent any time around me, I'm clearly an introvert. I rarely, if ever, get bored being alone. At the same time, I often really enjoy being loud an obnoxious in large groups, when the mood strikes me. I think part of it is growing up a pastor's child - there are times when you just have to be "on" for people. At the same time, I do need the down time to be refreshed.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I'd tell you but I'm just too shy.

[Shea Zellweger]

I'm an introverted extrovert - that is, people think I'm really extroverted, but to really recharge I need to be alone.

yup, that's me.

[Marsha Lynn]

I'm an introverted extrovert - that is, people think I'm really extroverted, but to really recharge I need to be alone.

Same here, but I would call it an extroverted introvert. I am an introvert by nature but have learned to love people and live as an extrovert. Even the tests are sometimes fooled at this time in my life into classifying me as an extrovert because when I'm with people I act like one. ("When at a social gathering do you talk to almost everyone or only a few close friends?" Everyone. After all, the whole purpose in being there is to invest in people. Why not get the most bang for the buck by investing a little time each in a bunch of people? Thus, I tend to "work the crowd." Then I go home.)

I need solitude in my life or I lose my emotional bearings. It made a world of difference for family vacations when I discovered the secret of starting each day earlier than anyone else in order to spend time with my Bible, books, and prayer journal. I do better sleep-deprived than solitude-deprived.

[Cynthia Prentice]

Most people think I am an extrovert but I am a true introvert when it comes to recharging my batteries. Paul and I are exact opposites on the Myers-Briggs. He is an ESFJ and I am an INTP. We like to think we can handle almost anything because between the two of us we have all the letters covered.

[Tami Martin]

I am an honest to God introvert. My batteries are charged by alone time - and I don't consider on-line time to be "alone," either!

Hubby, however, is the exact opposite. He's as extroverted as they come. You can tell with either of us with simple observations. After a day or two home alone, I'm ready to go. If hubby were forced to spend that much time alone - and without a computer or telephone - you'd probably think he was sick! He has to be around people to maintain that level of energy. I can function there, as most adults can, but after too much you can tell and I usually DO get sick.

[Marsha Lynn]

When we did a leadership training event at the local church a few months ago, we were all asked to do evaluations and almost everyone involved were assessed as introverts. That says something about the nature of the congregation.

I wonder about the poll question, however. My husband is even more of an introvert than I am and yet seems to require very little time truly alone -- long showers and vegging in front of the TV with others in the room seem to cover the "alone" time for him. In him, it comes out more as a "just us" mindset. He seems quite happy with 24/7 togetherness and tends to take it as personal rejection when after too much time even with "just us" I'm looking for a closet and a flashlight.

[Hans Deventer]

Discussion in the Sunday Night Service thread got me wondering what the folks of Naznet are regarding the Myers Briggs extrovert and introvert types. My theory is that the majority of people who spend very much time on message boards are typically introverts since the extroverts are probably out being with people instead of typing at them.

Kevin, I don't know how extrovert people really are, but I thought it would be better to not display each person's choice. So I changed the settings to that effect.

[Susan Unger]

When we did a leadership training event at the local church a few months ago, we were all asked to do evaluations and almost everyone involved were assessed as introverts. That says something about the nature of the congregation.

I wonder about the poll question, however. My husband is even more of an introvert than I am and yet seems to require very little time truly alone -- long showers and vegging in front of the TV with others in the room seem to cover the "alone" time for him. In him, it comes out more as a "just us" mindset. He seems quite happy with 24/7 togetherness and tends to take it as personal rejection when after too much time even with "just us" I'm looking for a closet and a flashlight.

My theoy on that is that one is also either a task oriented person or a relationship oriented person. I am an introvert who is a relationship oriented person. I need alone time but I also need to talk with one or two friends each day. I do not connect at all with task oriented people.

[Glenda Harvey]

I'm a reserved extrovert. I enjoy conversations with others and am very talkative at times. If I am waiting in line at the super market or DMV I will strike up a conversation with whoever is in line with me. At a social gathering I introduce myself to strangers and can usually find common ground to discuss with them. However I am not a loud, life of the party type which has caused some who don't know me well to describe me as quiet. Being in a large gathering of people energizes me and puts me in a good mood.

[Hans Deventer]

I'm recharged by both solitude and being with Hannie. I guess that makes me unfit for either category.

[Charlene Clevenger]

That's an interesting way to put it. I've always considered myself shy, but I like being around other people. However, I often find myself acting as an observer instead of a participant.

[Susan Unger]

My local Kiwanis club gives out annual scholarships to 14 area High School seniors. Tonight was the banquet where we eat with the recipients and their families, hear a speech or two and then present the checks to the students. We sit with them and make small talk with them and their parents. It is always the most miserable night of the year for me. Being a solid introvert, the thought of making small talk with utter strangers is hard work. And in a sense I am a hostess [being a member of the club] to those at my table, I feel like I have to be "on" instead of a blob. Then not having much sleep last night made me even more miserable. Thank goodness we had a strong extrovert at the table to keep a conversation going.

[Todd Erickson]

Most introverts do fairly well one on one, but badly in large groups. Some even experience anxiety in large crowds.

I'm of the personality type which is fairly introverted, but which tends toward depression if not given the opportunity to develop analytical thought output through conversation.

Bah.

[Susan Unger]

...which tends toward depression if not given the opportunity to develop analytical thought output through conversation.

Bah.

I can be like that, too.

[Billy Cox]

Most introverts do fairly well one on one, but badly in large groups. Some even experience anxiety in large crowds.

I'm of the personality type which is fairly introverted, but which tends toward depression if not given the opportunity to develop analytical thought output through conversation.

Bah.

I have observed that the current standard of pastoral practice favors those who get a charge out of being around a lot of people, who are comfortable making small talk with most of them, and who give them the impression that they have a friend in the clergy. This doesn't mean that introverts are persona non grata in ministry, just that they will always be the 6'2" point guard in a profession that prefers those in the 7' range.

[Susan Unger]

I have observed that the current standard of pastoral practice favors those who get a charge out of being around a lot of people, who are comfortable making small talk with most of them, and who give them the impression that they have a friend in the clergy. This doesn't mean that introverts are persona non grata in ministry, just that they will always be the 6'2" point guard in a profession that prefers those in the 7' range.

I wouldn't have quite thought of it being an introvert/extrovert thing, but now that you mention it I can see that in some cases.