The Introvert Advantage
June 26, 2011 4:30 PM Subscribe
This post was deleted for the following reason: Yeah, there's not really much here. -- cortex
From the description in the first link, it sounds like this book would be somewhat more accurate with every instance of "ntrovert" removed and the preceding letter capitalized.
posted by Blasdelb at 4:38 PM on June 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Blasdelb at 4:38 PM on June 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
I did expect a link to Cracked.com, which might have been more enlightening.
posted by Elmore at 4:42 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by Elmore at 4:42 PM on June 26, 2011
Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.
That's a very tall claim to be making, considering that neuroscientists usually go to lengths to point out just how little we know about the brain & its relation to personality.
I'd expect a proper citation for something like that, as opposed to an order to just go & use teh googelz.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:42 PM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
That's a very tall claim to be making, considering that neuroscientists usually go to lengths to point out just how little we know about the brain & its relation to personality.
I'd expect a proper citation for something like that, as opposed to an order to just go & use teh googelz.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:42 PM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
The dopamine claim does seem overly simplified, but the text describes a lot of my behavior pretty well.
posted by flaterik at 4:44 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by flaterik at 4:44 PM on June 26, 2011
So, essentially according to this introverts are just extroverts who don't see the point of social pleasantries? Can't we just go back to calling them rude? That was much simpler.
(and while I'm in my get off my lawn mood, whatever happened to that excellent word 'shy'? You know, the one we used to use for people who don't like mingling too much?)
posted by lesbiassparrow at 4:44 PM on June 26, 2011
(and while I'm in my get off my lawn mood, whatever happened to that excellent word 'shy'? You know, the one we used to use for people who don't like mingling too much?)
posted by lesbiassparrow at 4:44 PM on June 26, 2011
No I am right and the onus is on you! So kiss your onus!!!
posted by GuyZero at 4:44 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by GuyZero at 4:44 PM on June 26, 2011
Oh, right. The citation is the book they're flogging.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:45 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:45 PM on June 26, 2011
All of it's true, but it doesn't matter. Extroverts may know all this. But that doesn't mean they will stop expecting you to be like them, or stop marveling that you aren't like them, or gain the least respect for you or your needs. They are extroverts. They are almost completely insensitive to anyone besides themselves.
Some few extroverts are deeply compassionate and empathetic. But their compassion and empathy stops at compassion or empathy for introverts. They would feel sorry for you if they believed you. But if you tell them you're an introvert, they simply think you're lying. They think your claim of introversion is simply a strategy of extroversion that they don't recognize, and therefore they dismiss it.
The only people extroverts recognize or respect are other extroverts, and that is because they must compete with other extroverts for social space. As for you introverts, you do not exist for them, except as an audience. There is no solution to this dilemma. Introverts must simply console themselves with the thought that -- unlike these extroverts -- they have access to the perfect joy of solitude, the pleasure of their own company, and the ever-interesting flow of their own thoughts.
posted by Faze at 4:46 PM on June 26, 2011 [5 favorites]
Some few extroverts are deeply compassionate and empathetic. But their compassion and empathy stops at compassion or empathy for introverts. They would feel sorry for you if they believed you. But if you tell them you're an introvert, they simply think you're lying. They think your claim of introversion is simply a strategy of extroversion that they don't recognize, and therefore they dismiss it.
The only people extroverts recognize or respect are other extroverts, and that is because they must compete with other extroverts for social space. As for you introverts, you do not exist for them, except as an audience. There is no solution to this dilemma. Introverts must simply console themselves with the thought that -- unlike these extroverts -- they have access to the perfect joy of solitude, the pleasure of their own company, and the ever-interesting flow of their own thoughts.
posted by Faze at 4:46 PM on June 26, 2011 [5 favorites]
OK, I'm an introvert and this is bullshit - you cannot have a top ten of particular individual behaviour. I like to be alone, I do a lot of thinking when I'm alone. I'm not particularly creative when I work alone - I do need input from others. I do not hate, nor am I scared of other people. I just like being alone and working through my own thoughts on my own. This is why I spend so much time on Metafilter, to me it feels like I'm alone even though I'm sharing my stupid thoughts with lots of other people.
posted by Elmore at 4:46 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by Elmore at 4:46 PM on June 26, 2011
Obligatory link to Caring for Your Introvert.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:47 PM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:47 PM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Coincidentally, I just this second finished reading Shyness: Evolutionary Tactic? which I think is a more thoughtful exploration of the topic.
posted by joannemerriam at 4:49 PM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by joannemerriam at 4:49 PM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I always wonder about these lists along the lines "you might be an introvert if...". They always seem to strike home to me, but they definitely feel a lot like Barnum statements, one of the most powerful tools in cold reading. Are these things really at all meaningful, or is it just a list of feelings that everyone gets but few people talk about openly, leaving the impression that the list author must have some deep insight into how we work? After all, we all want to be told that our perceived weaknesses or lapses are due to being part of some special group, so there'd always be a market for this sort of book, regardless. And I have enough experience of cold reading to know that rational, intelligent people are just as capable of being sucked in as the more naturally credulous, despite believing that "of course it couldn't happen to [them]". Why should I presume that I'm any different?
I can't help feeling that a world in which the introvert:extrovert dichotomy doesn't exist would look just the same as this one. So while I fit the definition of an introvert, maybe that just means that I'm an ordinary person who's fallen for this particular flavour of cold reading / marketing?
posted by metaBugs at 4:49 PM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I can't help feeling that a world in which the introvert:extrovert dichotomy doesn't exist would look just the same as this one. So while I fit the definition of an introvert, maybe that just means that I'm an ordinary person who's fallen for this particular flavour of cold reading / marketing?
posted by metaBugs at 4:49 PM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
"This is why I spend so much time on Metafilter, to me it feels like I'm alone even though I'm sharing my stupid thoughts with lots of other people."
Me too!
“Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company”.
-Lord Byron (English Romantic poet and satirist, 1788-1824)
posted by Blasdelb at 4:49 PM on June 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
Me too!
“Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company”.
-Lord Byron (English Romantic poet and satirist, 1788-1824)
posted by Blasdelb at 4:49 PM on June 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
This isn't very accurate. I am a definitive introvert and easily break five of those myths.
posted by aesacus at 4:51 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by aesacus at 4:51 PM on June 26, 2011
But I guess the rules are "not every introvert is X," rather than "every introvert is not X," so nevermind.
posted by aesacus at 4:52 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by aesacus at 4:52 PM on June 26, 2011
I would argue about this, but I'm too busy going out to parties and meeting people and being bubbly and charismatic.
posted by The Whelk at 4:52 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by The Whelk at 4:52 PM on June 26, 2011
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posted by The Whelk at 4:34 PM on June 26, 2011