Can Introverts be Energized by Other People?

[Jgib5328]

Tonight I was hanging out with a bunch of my high school friends and I felt as though I was being energized by being around them. I didn't want to leave when we all had to go and I probably would've stayed for a really long time if we didn't all decide to go. I've had a lot of experiences like this, sometimes I just want to be around people a lot. I'm about 65/35 I/E, but for the sake of simplicity let's just assume that I'm exactly 65/35 I/E. Does that mean that 65% of the time I am I, but 35% of the time I am E? That's how I interpreted what this meant. So I guess it is possible for an Introvert to be energized by other people but only a small percentage of the time. What do you guys think?

[lordrrr]

True, depending on how accurate the test is (and when I saw my results I thought they seemed accurate). If the results seem accurate to you then yeah you have an extraverted side. I score 95 I 5 E so I don't get that rush from hanging around others. Of course there are my friends, when I'm in a group of 2 min 4 max I could go forever, go one person beyond that (even my bff's) and I can't take more than a couple hours without at least 20 minutes of intrapersonal time (talking to myself etc.). INTJ is preference, however if MBTI types are anything like genetics they would dominate the whole aspect of our life rather than combining it, but that depends on your point of view of MBTI.

[Haphazard]

Test numbers are just that, test numbers. Nobody is completely an introvert or completely an extrovert, brain structure isn't decided like that. Organic things are rarely ever exact.

What about your friends made you energetic? Small talk or talking about things you're interested in? I become extremely energetic when I'm doing something I enjoy, but it's not that I enjoy the people around me so much. It sounds like an awful thing to say, but it's true.

I still have very strong emotions but my thoughts rule them, or at least know that my emotions are predictable enough and how to control them a steer them on a proper course. This is why I'm a T rather than an F. You still have both, one's just dominant. You wouldn't do a very good job without one half of your brain, now, would you?

[Vicimdhar]

Does that mean that 65% of the time I am I, but 35% of the time I am E?
No, the numbers only indicate how certain you are that you have a preference for either E or I. The test is not designed to measure strength of preference, just your strength of self-knowledge about your preference.

I can feel energized by other people when having an interesting conversation or if I'm in the right mood. However, it doesn't happen often and I will feel tired afterwards.

[Uytuun]

Yes, sure, it's possible. Sometimes I seek out people because I know being around them will "heal" or "regenerate" me - think of health bars in games. :p They don't have to be friends per se. Same with being outdoors, or doing a physical activity.

[Ytterbium]

Yes ofcourse if it's something good for you, talking about ideas etc. It's like this when me and my INTP friend talks. He can babble pretty much actually.

[vaguely dissatisfied]

I wonder if it has more to do with a feeling of acceptance from other people? In which case, it would be more about the situation than about just being around people.

[Blaze2000]

While I don't usually go out of my way to socialize, it can be "energizing" sometimes if it's the right people. To me, it's interesting to get other people's viewpoints on things that I have strong opinions about and having a deep, rational and civil discussion about them. If the people around me are one-dimensional, then yeah, it's tough to get excited.

[eternaltriangle]

I think anybody can be energized by social situations - it depends on the situation though. Do MOST social situations energize you? Also, it may simply be the nature of the conversation (eg. if it is very NT). For me, playing dungeons and dragons when I was in high school was probably the things I most fondly remember - it was a social activity, and it definitely energized me, but I think it was more the activity than the people (although they made it great too).

[Antares]

Oh yes. It's entirely possible to be energized by others. I'm about 67% introverted, but yet around my ENTP, ESTP, ESTJ, INTP and INTJ friends, I just get so excited by talking to them. Sometimes I almost wish the conversation would not end.

[vaguely dissatisfied]

I find being around people draining. It's like living on a planet full of psychic vampires.

[Jgib5328]

Sometimes I really love being around people and I literally am an extrovert. I remember whenever I am in this state of mind, I am incredibly impatient, hate being by myself, and want to continue hanging out with people.

A lot of the time I hate other people and want to be by myself though.

[Tokey41]

It definitely happens, but it really depends on the situation whereas when your alone it's always the same scenario... and I know i'm going to be energized.

[bubbles]

Sometimes I really love being around people and I literally am an extrovert. I remember whenever I am in this state of mind, I am incredibly impatient, hate being by myself, and want to continue hanging out with people.

A lot of the time I hate other people and want to be by myself though.

I'm kind of like that too, except that I'm much more introverted. Introverts need human interaction, too, but unlike extroverts, we can become tired from spending too much time with people. Once I'm in my social mode, I become more extroverted and my EQ probably increases as well. Then once I'm done socializing, I'm back to my solitary mode and want to be by myself again.

[OneBadMother]

Sometimes I really love being around people and I literally am an extrovert. I remember whenever I am in this state of mind, I am incredibly impatient, hate being by myself, and want to continue hanging out with people.

A lot of the time I hate other people and want to be by myself though.

Sounds pretty accurate for me. Some days I really miss the company of a select few other people and go out of my way to hang out with them, but other times I just withdraw and eschew opportunities to spend time with others. Activities like multiplayer games don't require much socializing effort, so I'm generally up for those.

[Meyer]

No, the numbers only indicate how certain you are that you have a preference for either E or I. The test is not designed to measure strength of preference, just your strength of self-knowledge about your preference.

I can feel energized by other people when having an interesting conversation or if I'm in the right mood. However, it doesn't happen often and I will feel tired afterwards.

I've never heard it put that way or thought about it. That was helpful. Thank you.

[anthrogirl]

I am energized if I have had a good, intellegent conversation with someone or a group of people, otherwises I get drained by boring small talk.

[dissident]

I don't mind listening to other people talk even about mundane stuff unless the conversation gets too sexual in nature. That sexual, cocky, flirty sort of behavior has never really turned me on, though I've learned to accept that fact that it's normal in most people. There are certain people though that have such a loud, raunchy sense of humor that they are "in your face" about that I simply can't be around them.. usually only about 1 in 20 people are that bad, though.

I enjoy sitting around listening to what makes most normal people tick.. it can be energizing too.. yet when I'm not forced into the situation by circumstance.. say when going to break at work, normally I stay in introvert mode.. on my off hours I don't go out of the house in an attempt to meet people usually.

[meanlittlechimp]

Tonight I was hanging out with a bunch of my high school friends and I felt as though I was being energized by being around them. I didn't want to leave when we all had to go and I probably would've stayed for a really long time if we didn't all decide to go. I've had a lot of experiences like this, sometimes I just want to be around people a lot. I'm about 65/35 I/E, but for the sake of simplicity let's just assume that I'm exactly 65/35 I/E. Does that mean that 65% of the time I am I, but 35% of the time I am E? That's how I interpreted what this meant. So I guess it is possible for an Introvert to be energized by other people but only a small percentage of the time. What do you guys think?

I do think Introverts can occasionally be energized by others, though not as often as extroverts. I don't think you should put too much stock in the numbers - the percentage splits has more to do with imperfect testing procedures than any REAL split in your personality, broken down by some percentage number.

[apresmoimelle]

If these people were your friends, I would hope they would "energize" you. I know I would not necessarily want to be around a bunch of people who are too boring for their own good.