Is introversion like a personality disorder?

Question

I’m not trying to start a flame war; this is a serious question. As an introvert, I feel like there is something inherently wrong about how my personality functions in an extroverted world. It seems as if I have to put on an out-going persona in order to interact properly with the world, even though that goes against my true nature, and that feels like a false image in my mind.

I’m hoping for comments on this idea from introverts and extroverts alike. Do fellow introverts feel somehow inferior in public life? Do extroverts have trouble understanding why we have difficulty in society? Any other comments on this clash of personality styles would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your answers.

Fortunato, thanks for the info on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicators, although I'm familiar with it (others might not be though). I know that my MBTI puts me as an INTP. This makes my dominant function introverted thinking and secondary extroverted intuition. The way I look at it is that my perceiving function can be taken as a sign of extrovertion, but it takes a lot to cut throught the introvertion. Hope that's useful.

Answer 1

It took me years to accept myself as an introvert (I too tried for years to become an extrovert to be more accepted by society, but I was completely miserable doing so). You're right, Western Society does not value the reflective, thoughtful introvert as much as the gregarious, overtly friendly extrovert. That doesn't mean introversion is a personality disorder, however. It's just a different personality type (and is accepted as such in the field of psychology). In fact, the introversion/extroversion scale is one of the 4 main personality scales in Myers-Briggs testing. Now I've learned to value my introversion because there are some very laudable traits that are part of being an introvert (not that extroverts don't also have value). And finally, it should be pointed out that other cultures do value introversion as a character trait. So accept yourself as an introvert--it's a beautiful part of who God created you to be.

And I would have to disagree that extroverts are more productive and able to help others. As an introvert, I am WAY more productive than many co-workers who are constantly chatting away about inconsequential stuff instead of working. And introverts are many times sought out as a listening ear and are therefore able to help others in ways that a chatterbox cannot. Also, being an introvert doesn't mean you can't volunteer at the soup kitchen, give to the poor, etc.

I'm not trying to say that introverts are better than extroverts; they're just good in different ways and society needs them both.

Answer 2

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RE:
Is introversion like a personality disorder?
I’m not trying to start a flame war; this is a serious question. As an introvert, I feel like there is something inherently wrong about how my personality functions in an extroverted world. It seems as if I have to put on an out-going persona in order to interact properly with the world, even...

Answer 3

Introvert Personality Disorder

Answer 4

I am an Introvert. Being an introvert is not a disorder. Sure where out numbered and not really accept by some people. But there are some introverts with good social skills. You may be an introvert that is also shy which makes it harder for you in social situations. the main difference though between extroverts and introverts is that introverts get easily drained of energy if surrounded by too many people, sounds, and other things going on then extroverts do. Introverts are often overstimulated by there surroundings. Extroverts are trying to become stimulated there there brains aren't as sensitive as the introverts brain is. Some extroverts do understand our problems but many feel that we are inferior to them. Sometimes its the other way around. some introverts feel that extroverts are the inferior ones with superior numbers. hopes this helps

Answer 5

I think that introversion is more of a phasal trait rather than an inherent disorder. I go through periods of introversion and then periods when I am more extroverted and have done so pretty much all of my life. One phase or another can last years, months or just days, it depends, I guess. I think people who are mostly extroverted do have a greater problem understanding their opposites than people who are mostly introverted.

But I disagree that the "styles" clash, necessarily. These phases in my life have coincided with my own needs at the time. And certainly, I never feel inferior when I am in the introvert mode because that is when I need to follow more solitary intellectual pursuits of questions of my mind and soul and psyche. When I need that human interaction, I seek it out from people who then say, Hey, girl, long time no see!" and as they know me so well and do honestly care about me, we pick up as if no time had passed and these relationships are very real and rewarding and they are there for me to enjoy when I'm in the "out" phases.

It's harder now that I'm older, 44, and have a husband and a child to help care for. I have to be here for my son...but my husband has become very good at understanding when I need alone time and he will even tell me to take a vacation, go somewhere for a few days, but I usually just take a few hours. You give up the me for the us. And it really is a sacrifice, but for myself it is worth it.

Answer 6

introversion isn't a personality disorder. It only becomes a personality disorder when you can't function becuase of it. Are you afraid of being around people? You may have social anxiety.

Answer 7

introversion personality disorder

Answer 8

In American (and a lot of Western countries) extroverts are perceived as "better". To them it seems natural to want to be gregarious and that is how business works. But ask anyone who is an introvert, or left-handed...just because the majority is one thing doesn't mean your way isn't entirely valid also.

Answer 9

I'd say up front that "introversion" in terms of how you refer to it is NOT a personality disorder, although it has been perceived that way for different reasons I will mention in a moment. However, a person can become so introverted that they withdraw from society, abandoning all relationships and being unable to contribute to anything. This distortion of introversion is very unhealthy.

if you have studied Jung's personality theory (from which the popular Meyers-Briggs test was developed), you'll find a wealth of understanding about the extraversion/introversion dichotomy. I will try to keep the sidebar of background info short and to the point.


---- CRASH COURSE IN JUNGIAN THEORY! ---- [skip if you are familiar]

According to Jung, our personalities can be generalized into four "functions" that we use in order to live: Thinking vs. Feeling, and Sensing vs. Intuition.

The first pair is "Judging" in nature -- the process we use to make decisions:
* Thinking - uses impersonal "objective" logic
* Feeling - uses personal logic/values [note -- this is not equivalent to "emotion," although emotions are tied to our personal values]

The second pair is "Perceptive" in nature -- how we gather information to FUEL the decision-making process:
* Sensing -- focusing on concrete reality from the five senses
* iNtuitive -- focusing on what the concrete details suggest, thinking of possibilities

Jung also had a third pair -- these describe how we focus our energies and where we feel most comfortable:
* Extraversion -- concerned primarily with the outer realm
* Introversion -- concerned primarily with the inner realm

Now, we all use all four of the judging/perceptive functions in life, but we prioritize them (1-2-3-4) so that one function is dominant (#1) and "supported" by one of the other functions (#2). And each function must either be directed inwards or outwards. So, in order for a person to live constructively, the #2 function has to be:

* a Judging function if the dominate function is Perceiving; and vice versa.
* Introverted if the dominate function is Extraverted; and vice versa.

[Basically, this is because we have to cover all the bases: Our top two functions need to be able to (a) gather information, (b) make decisions, (c) deal with the inner world, and (d) deal with the outer world. If they did not do all these things, we could NOT function.]

---- END CRASH COURSE ----



Why is this relevant? Well, an extravert "extraverts" his dominant function, while an introvert "introverts" his.

So when you look at an extravert, you are seeing the dominant function (their #1 function!) at work. When you look at an introvert, you are NOT seeing his dominant function, you are seeing his supporting function (the #2 function!) at work.

This is one reason why an introvert (in general) often feels they have to develop a persona in order to operate externally -- to interact with others, we are FORCED to develop our secondary function, but we still view life primarily through our #1 internalized function. Not only that, but our dominant function is very different in nature than our secondary -- one collects data, the other makes decisions.

An extravert lucks out in that sense: They can get away with not developing their secondary function, at least on the surface, even if inside they remain hollow or devoid of self-examination.

Extraverts also function in the visible outer world. They make concrete things happen. What they achieve is tangible and apparent. They "look" successful, and "active," and "engaging," and other-directed. An introvert meanwhile is primarily working internally, changing the inner world and only messing with the outer world when they have to, in order to impact the inner world in some way. From the outside, the introvert can easily look "unengaged," and "inactive," and "unsuccessful" to an extravert.

So yes, extraverts often misunderstand introverts, and vice versa. And since we interact primarily in the extraverted realm, the extravert has a quick advantage, often feels dominant, and "looks like the norm" by which the introvert should be judged. Extraverts will take advantage of circumstances more often and their achievements will be more apparent (since they work externally) so they might be rewarded or rise up the career ladder more quickly.

The value of introversion only becomes apparent over time, when the extravert either digs deeper or the introvert learns how to enact in the outer world what he has locked inside. An introvert often has clarity and self-awareness the extravert naturally lacks. They are generally more stable and consistent, have more "identity," and so forth. Introverts can focus for long periods of time one something, digging deeply. Much of our scientific advancement, religious soul-searching, even just plain old "set the nose to the grindstone" reliability, etc., is due to introverts using their gifts appropriately.

For a comparison of presidents, many of them were extraverted: George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Ulysses Grant, FDR, John F Kennedy, Teddy Roosevelt, for example.

Introverts often take a beating in presidential elections versus extraverts (who are better at wooing people) -- Nixon lost to Kennedy, Carter lost to Reagan, Bush Sr. lost to Clinton, Gore lost to GWB, Kerry (an introvert with well-developed extraversion) lost to GWB. Introverts have a hard time beating an extravert at the PR game in terms of pure image.

The following, though, were introverted: Jefferson, Lincoln, Truman, Washington (I think, some disagree). There might not be as many "notables" or "larger than lifes" in there -- but the ones that ARE notable are EXTREMELY so.

So we should take pride in what we are and what we can contribute. We will feel frustrated at times because we do have a public persona that we use to interact with others, except for maybe our closest friends and family, but that's just the way it is.

I'm more concerned simply that extraverts take the time to realize that the inner life matters and the introverts are contributing and doing things even if they do not operate at the same outward pace, and that some introversion will do them some good.

Answer 10

I was an extrovert married to an introvert. We've been married for 3 years and the more time I spend with him, the more I become like him. I used to live in the city and want to go out a lot, now I want to stay home a lot and live in the country on a secluded 4 acre plot of land surrounded by trees! I don't think there is anything wrong with being introverted, you stay out of a lot of trouble that way, and don't fall into what everyone is doing - usually stupid stuff. The good thing is that you don't have to deal with a bunch of stupid people and be into their gossip or part of their annoyances. The bad thing is that being introverted usually leads you to be a bit more on the selfish side so it is important to keep balance. Also, being introverted, I find that you don't have as many or any good friends. Friends are important to have, it is never good to be alone. I tend to spend too much time with my husband now that I don't have any good friends, and it sucks because we fight a lot more since we take everything out on each other lol. So in conclusion, I would advise you to have some balance...maybe a couple really good friends to help you get by. Try to get out a little more at a time, no pretense, you're much more productive when you're an extrovert and able to help others and your community.