http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aJtkve8jeE
Like the book of five rings, you can listen to it over and over and still find something new.

@hecc – Well, that likely depends on what one is thinking about… how active the inner world is. Again, this does not need to be a language voice. It could also be music, images, people,… not necessarily, “did I lock the door, oh look a shiny object, the utensils are not aligned, not aligned, let me check the door again, it must be locked to stay safe”.

(I think OCD is mainly an introvert problem. ADD is mainly an extravert problem. I don’t know about anxiety, probably depends on the particular form of it.)

Extraverts generally report themselves to be happier, but I take that with a grain of salt. For instance, note that everything that extraverts do is awesome and amazing e.g. they just had an amazing workout or ate an awesome hotdog (my favorite example). From an introvert perspective, this is obviously a ridiculous exaggeration. Therefore, when an extravert express emotion, I divide by 2 … or 20 .. whatever seems more appropriate depending on whether, say, “awesome” is the most used word in his vocabulary or the third most used.

(Extraverts tend to be men of few words, but they use them a lot.)

Conversely, when an introvert express emotion, I multiply by 2… or 20, depending on how often he speaks.

This tends to normalize reporting.

@sarah – I gotta check those out.

The processing of analysis and small-talk is entirely different. It is like having a computer work out how to walk. It requires far too many computations to analyze each little movement in detail. Similarly, small-talk flows so fast that the processing power that an introvert brings to the problem is immense and out of proportion. It is thus frustrating to discover that there is so little reward in the analysis. An extravert employs a part of the brain that is much more suited to the problem, similar to how walking is a subconscious process.

Conversely, while extraverts are good at small-talk, they are not as good at big-talk… long didactic conversations that cover complex subjects, where introverts shine.

Outgoing people are mostly comfortable in a social setting. Yet, many extraverts can not stand the thought of being alone for more than 12 hours and need to seek out other people, even if they don’t particularly enjoy being with them.

I must disagree with a few points (although the discussion on music is interesting).

ADD is NOT an extrovert problem. A person with ADD can be highly social OR can be sitting back in a corner reveling in his (or more commonly her) thoughts. ADD in females does not present in the same way. In fact, ADD often goes unrecognized in girls because they seem spacey and detached and aren’t causing the trouble that their male counterparts are causing because they simply aren’t interacting with anyone.

And OCD is simply an overly strong preoccupation with some concern or thought (infection, fires, accidents) combined with a compulsive habit which gives its sufferer the impression that he/she is avoiding the offending thought (counting, washing, staying inside etc). I’ve known people with this including family members– you don’t have to be introverted or extroverted. Same goes with anxiety–it can affect any ‘type’ of person.

Yeah, I’m not buying that. I’m an extrovert and my brain is talking to me all the time. So much so that my husband often has to remind me on the freeway “hello, we’re getting off at this exit!” (as I’m just about to pass it,) because I’ve got something going on in my brain that is overriding the part of my brain that is supposed to be paying attention to where I am. I would venture that 100% of people have this voice talking in their heads.

And especially in conversation! 100% of people are thinking about SOMETHING ELSEl! Sounds like you are using the “introvert” thing as an excuse to not listen. My extroverted husband is often not listening to me (how many wives say this–are ALL our husbands introverts????) and when I call him on it he says “I was so listening to you, but the aliens were talking louder than you were.”

You’ll have to try harder to convince me that this is an introvert-only issue . . .

Well, I am an off-the-chart extravert, so I’ll try to share my perspective.
1. What Jacob describes as an internal dialogue is something I actually vocalize externally. Many extraverts need to “think out loud.” This often leads people to believe that extraverts believe in or are committed to every utterance they make; when in fact, they may just be throwing it up to shoot it down. Never assume that just because I say something, it represents my view on the subject. I suspect that this process would madden an introvert if he or she were exposed to it for any length of time.

2. I also appreciate complex, polyphonic music. But I also like Gregorian chant, which is typically unaccompanied monotone. I don’t think the nature of the music is an “ex vs. in” issue. I do like music or sound to be playing in the background when I am studying or reading because the auditory stimulus helps energize me. I think this is true of many extraverts.

3. I can certainly be alone without detriment; but, aside from reading, there’s not much I enjoy doing by myself. for example, I simply won’t be energized enough to consider exercise unless I am accompanied by another person who will share the activity. For me, and for many extraverts, things like viewing a movie or a sporting event are fine in and of themselves, but when enjoyed in company are almost always better.

4. Finally, I disagree completely with Jacob’s assessment of extraverts’ language skills. I have a rich and varied vocabulary, which I enjoy employing. I rarely use the word “awesome” to describe an experience. I suspect that a lot of the emotional variability that he notes is related more to the Feeling vs. Thinking dyad in the Myers-Briggs typology.

Okay, here’s a follow-up to my previous comment: I had not seen Jacob’s other post on introversion vs. extroversion (The Great Dichotomy…), where he makes clear that he’s aware of flying to the defense of introversion in a sometimes heated and intense way… Had I seen that other post I probably wouldn’t have left my comment.

Peace,
Michael

I’m only 16 years old and I came across the topic extroverts and introverts and right away I knew i was introverted I love to read and be alone and I’m somewhat more emotional than others.I also tend to drift off when someones having a boring conversation with me. I could be in class and surrounded by a sea of people and ill be stuck in my own head thinking about dialogue or scenarios (i love to write) I always feel disconnected from people in my school. while they go out to party’s I sit home and read and write. don’t get me wrong i like the occasional party but I get bored easily when I’m there (unless I’m drunk) that’s the only time I can hold a conversation with someone extroverted. it’s kind of lonely i don’t know anyone else like me its kind of depressing i only have one real good friend hes very extroverted like extreme but somehow he makes me feel better about myself he gets me out to party”s and to talk to girls he’s probably the only reason I’m somewhat “popular” I guess opposites attract it could also be because we both love to play baseball but yeah hes my best friend. does anyone have any advice?