Comments on: 30 Famous Introverts – Introverted Personality Types and Traits

By: Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:26:59 +0000

I’m going back to school in the fall, after 6 years of working at home as a writer and blogger. I’m definitely an introvert (though not a famous one), and am a little worried at what it’ll be like to be in school and doing my practicum full-time.

Maybe I need to research and write an article on how introverts stay sane when they’re in school and counseling people for a living…

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 05 May 2012 08:00:30 +0000

I sometimes like to refer to myself as an introverted-extrovert, or vice-versa..if you get my drift. Put me in the right mood, the right company..preferably no more than two others, add booze..And I can be quite lively, passionate, witty and all-round-company.Or at least I hope that’s the way I’m coming across. However I also have a natural tendency to withdraw from group social situations and hate to be forced into activities reflective of this..office Team-Building Days being at the top of this list. I also can’t stand group dynamics and the politics of the extroverts. I prefer to just get on with my job and don’t need to do all that collaborative girly office team-work crap(even while they’re stabbing each in the back to the be the next Queen Bee!)..But that’s just one example of it and not meant to sound like some sexist rant..I feel a disabling psycho/emotional kind of noise all around when I’m forced into these situations; it’s just not where I excel….I’m probably in a good job for it then because I spend a large part of my day in a nice darkly lit broadcasting booth talking into a stick.

By: elle

elle — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:24:15 +0000

@Mike

I think your life demonstrates precisely the fundamental nature of introversion. Many people as you know confuse it with shyness and social awkwardness and it’s not that at all. We recently did Myers-Briggs assessments at my job and many of us were surprised at those who tested introvert vs. extroverts. I was no surprise – the way I am matches the conventional ideas about what an introvert is. I am shy as well as introverted. But many of the guys in our IT department are extroverts and nearly half of my small department is introverted. They were a surprise, because they are not shy or soft spoken like me. On the outside they may resemble extroverts, but they prefer solitary pursuits as well like reading, web surfing, and don’t like being the center of attention. But we’re all different. Even shy me, loves to dance my butt off at parties. In fact, I enjoy parties that are centered around shared activities as opposed to small talk.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:36:17 +0000

I have a lifetime of professional experience in emergency services. I’ve been a cop, firefighter, EMT, search and rescue diver, among others, I have also been in the military and then as a civilian, volunteered to go to Afghanistan to help train during this war, for 4 years. I could be described as an extrovert by some descriptions. I get off work and I absolutely prefer the singular pursuits. I love solo activities, prefer the company of my dog to friends, built a house that was in the country where my closest neighbor was a quarter mile away on a desolate road and 500 feet off the road behind the woods. People could drive right by my house and never know I was there and I loved it that way.

How can I explain this; this extreme difference in profession vs recreation in my socialization skills?

My response to this is that, “I am an introvert that plays an extrovert in TV.” No, I am not an actor at all. I am, however, a creative. Drawing and painting as a child and now a professional photographer, journalist and one preferring to remain on the sidelines of history, all the while absolutely ready to step up to the plate when an emergency occurs or to get right in the middle of the action, wherever it takes me.
Just thought I’d give another perspective…

By: Maddi

Maddi — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:23:05 +0000

This is so good. Thank you so much. I’m a total introvet and I find it really hard. It is really hard to go to school and watch everyone else socializing where as I would rather watch. I have been critized and misjudged because of it and I wish others would try and see how I see the world. I think it is important for introverts to not lose sight of who they are. I have tried to be more extroverted and I saw people like that but I was mad at myself for not being true to myself. I am unique. I am an introvert.

By: Christine Rage

Christine Rage — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:52:13 +0000

I’m very introverted but I have a lot of friends who say that’s a crazy statement because I can be the life of the party, and I’m great at networking. I’m a dj and performer and I love attention, as long as it’s within my control. What they don’t get is that it drains me to no end to be social & to network, and after I perform I go a week before I talk to ANYONE. And when I’m not performing, I dress down and look mousy because I mostly prefer to be left alone when not on stage.

I think introverts can come off as extroverted when it’s necessary, but they cannot actually force themselves to become a true extrovert. An extrovert can appear introverted on a bad day, so it goes both ways. I guess what I’m saying is we slide up and down the scale, there are many shades of grey on the scale between both poles.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:13:29 +0000

Interesting article, I am an introvert, have two children that are introverts, have a father that was an introvert but belong to a very large family of extroverts. BTW, the kids Dad, an extrovert, I guess they got lucky. I have been very successful in life and business because I can sit back and watch and not jump at everything like an extrovert.I hire people that think before they answer and examine before they react. Being an introvert means being able to play the scenario through your head and making it work before presenting the idea. I usually work in an environment of extroverts but my new company is made of a management team of introverts that are strong, focus, and respective of those in the environment.

By: Deepti

Deepti — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 06:25:36 +0000

Hi, its a very useful article. would like to put forth a theory though, i wonder how many would agree with it, do you think a person can start of as an extrovert at the younger stages of life and move onto introversion?
What about people who show both the reactions to stress as mentioned in the 2nd paragraph of the article? My MBTI result shows that I am an introvert, but I have always had lots of friends, been the soul of a parties mostly, been very talkative and funny in a big group of people, have organized and been emcee to many events as well. now the paradox is that a lot of things mentioned in your post also hold true for me, like not having very close friends, and being introspective, not being able to show reactions to stress etc. Request you to please elaborate on the differences more for confused souls like me. thanks

By: Ty

Ty — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:08:19 +0000

Nice post. It’s all very accurate too. It took me awhile to figure out what I was. After taking quiz after quiz after quiz,and educating myself on introversion, I finally came to conclusion that I really am an introvert! It was very comforting to know.
I used to be a lonely extrovert, but now I’m just a loner,and I’m finally starting to accept it and move on after….5 years of pure loneliness. Progress! <3

By: It's Okay To Be "Quiet" | Minding Therapy

It's Okay To Be "Quiet" | Minding Therapy — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:07:33 +0000

[...] Albert Einstein, Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates, Rosa Parks, and Eleanor Roosevelt. And, according to another source online, there’s also Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Johnny Carson, Julia Roberts, and Steve Martin, just [...]