[rubicon]

Are you an extrovert or introvert and how did it effect your life?

[Microcodeboy]

Both. I was and am capable of being the extrovert, such as in business meetings, trips, etc. First to introduce, break ice, etc. Have done presentations to big audiences (yes, with Powerpoint slides). However, my comfort zone is when I am alone in my shop working on something. I have no end to the topics I am interested in and love to pursue them. Hate going out to a social event, always have a great time. So which am I?

[champion6]

<kidding>
I'm a pervert. I was arrested, convicted and sentenced. There are five years I will never get back.

[jblum315]

I guess I'm a divert. I try to divert attention away from myself

[DianeM]

Definitely introverted by nature but can run meetings and events well when called to do so.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by nysnowbirds

Both. I was and am capable of being the extrovert, such as in business meetings, trips, etc. First to introduce, break ice, etc. Have done presentations to big audiences (yes, with Powerpoint slides). However, my comfort zone is when I am alone in my shop working on something. I have no end to the topics I am interested in and love to pursue them. Hate going out to a social event, always have a great time. So which am I?

I can relate to that! Especially the "hate to go to a social event, always have a great time".

[tucson]

Originally Posted by rubicon

Are you an extrovert or introvert and how did it effect your life?

Both, feel comfortable speaking in front of a audience and also a one on one conversation :-)

[Polar Bear]

Love having friends and enjoy moderate amounts of socializing. But prefer event-type socializing (sports, games, etc.) to pure parties/social events type socializing. I'm definitely more introvert by nature.

[janieb]

Originally Posted by jblum315

I guess I'm a divert. I try to divert attention away from myself

I think that describes me too, I think that I am mostly an introvert but can be sort of an extrovert if I need to be. I am not comfortable giving large presentations but I will be giving one next week remotely, interested to see how that goes

[lightworker888]

my DH did quite a bit of studying about the difference between the two types and he found out that an introvert expends energy around people and therefore needs to recharge with"alone" time. The extrovert needs people around to recharge and will seek out situations that will help him/her recharge. That can take many forms like telephoning, visiting, shopping etc. It puts the person in a situation of interaction with others.

You cannot really tell if someone is an introvert or extrovert just from their style of interaction with others. Some apparently outgoing joking personalities are often really introverts who retreat to their homes to recharge and are very quiet at home.

With most couples, there is often one of each so it becomes a balancing act. My DH can only take so much "outside" activity so I have learned to be OK with going out on my own to get myself recharged! It has taken a long time to really "get" that we are both OK, just different and to be able to support each others styles and to recognize my own need to care for myself. I think I tried to get him to be different so that I could get out enough! It is a blessing that he was interested in pursuing the research enough that we could both grow in our understanding and appreciation of our differences.

LW888

[In awe of TV]

my DH did quite a bit of studying about the difference between the two types and he found out that an introvert expends energy around people and therefore needs to recharge with"alone" time. The extrovert needs people around to recharge and will seek out situations that will help him/her recharge. That can take many forms like telephoning, visiting, shopping etc. It puts the person in a situation of interaction with others.

I am basically an introvert and expend a lot of energy around people and I do need my alone time to recharge. Sometimes I take too much alone time and don't allow myself to get back into the swing of things. I definitely need to work on this.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by lightworker888

my DH did quite a bit of studying about the difference between the two types and he found out that an introvert expends energy around people and therefore needs to recharge with"alone" time. The extrovert needs people around to recharge and will seek out situations that will help him/her recharge. That can take many forms like telephoning, visiting, shopping etc. It puts the person in a situation of interaction with others.

You cannot really tell if someone is an introvert or extrovert just from their style of interaction with others. Some apparently outgoing joking personalities are often really introverts who retreat to their homes to recharge and are very quiet at home.

With most couples, there is often one of each so it becomes a balancing act. My DH can only take so much "outside" activity so I have learned to be OK with going out on my own to get myself recharged! It has taken a long time to really "get" that we are both OK, just different and to be able to support each others styles and to recognize my own need to care for myself. I think I tried to get him to be different so that I could get out enough! It is a blessing that he was interested in pursuing the research enough that we could both grow in our understanding and appreciation of our differences.

LW888

Interesting results on the study. I do feel like I need to recharge by interacting with other people but this is often via a computer, books, watching TV, grocery shopping. etc. I had to become outgoing to get my MA in Librarianship and certainly my JD (Law Degree) but still do not like public speaking. I avoided public speaking as much as possible while getting my BAs in History and Philosophy. A lot of the historical people I have studied are quite hard to pin down like Napoleon Bonaparte, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill: while others more easily fit a stereotype of introvert or extrovert like Edgar Allen Poe (introvert) and Benjamin Franklin (extrovert).

[skyguy79]

I'm too bashful to answer the question.

[Buffalo Jim]

Originally Posted by nysnowbirds

Both. I was and am capable of being the extrovert, such as in business meetings, trips, etc. First to introduce, break ice, etc. Have done presentations to big audiences (yes, with Powerpoint slides). However, my comfort zone is when I am alone in my shop working on something. I have no end to the topics I am interested in and love to pursue them. Hate going out to a social event, always have a great time. So which am I?

THe above describes me perfectly . I never had any issue / anxiety giving presentations or just speaking off a few notes in front of a large gathering or our corporate Board . However following a major presentation when individuals would approach me for one on one conversation I could always feel myself pulling back !

I have to really force myself to seek out social situations . I am more than comfortable --- too comfortable -- being alone . I rarely if ever get bored with my own company because I have so many subjects which I am interested in learning more about .
All of the above considered spending an abundant amount of time alone is really NOT such a great idea . I have now lived here nearly 2 years and sadly have not met many people .

[rubicon]

First let me apologize. I reread my OP and believe I should have written affect rather than effect.

Secondly based on the ease of answering we apparently all know ourselves quite well.

I too can be both extrovert and introvert but my default is to introvert. Like many of you my duties forced me to the former. Unlike some of you I loved public speaking. It is an important piece of my occupation that I miss.

My daughter knows me quite well and brought me a book concerning highly sensitive people. I explained that I was not that thin skinned. she agreed. The sensitive person in the book is about people who are overwhelmed by loud noise or crowded rooms. My daughter is right about me. While I can speak in front of huge crowds once I'm done I have to move out of the room...retreat to quiet so I can internalize recharge evaluate how I did and what I should do to improve.

I am guessing after reading the preceding posts that there are a lot of you like that too.

Clearly no one related an extrovert to that of a narcissist .

I love the story of the narcissistic talk show host. He speaking to his guest for about 15 minutes and its all about him. He stops suddenly as says enough about me" let's talk about you. The guest's body language signals he is ready for his first question. The talk host leans into the guest with his microphone and says to the guest "what to you think of me?"

ciao