[AureliaSeverina]

Are introverts their own (and each other's) worst enemies?
Discuss.

[Spiky]

I don't think that introverts are their own worst enemy. At some points I've wished I wouldn't live inside my own head all the time and I could go out and actually socialize with the world but then I turn on my laptop and that want goes away (haha).

The only thing I can think of that would make me think it is possible for an introvert to be his/her own enemy would be if he/she was concerned about their own lack of self confidence, or lack of social stimulation. There are plenty of places online for introverts to socialize (exactly why I joined today) and as far as getting past lack of self confidence, that would just be something to be practiced if it is desired at all.

INTJs could be each other's enemies, if for example, they are both working on a project together and both have completely different ideas for how the project should be handled and neither of them want to admit the other's idea would be just as practical.

Just my two cents. Maybe one.

[davai]

As opposed to extroverts? No. But as people, which introverts are a subset of, yes. Or no, because god is. So yes, and no, depending on your frame of reference.

[CakeZ]

Enemies in what fashion?
A desire for social interaction?
Who needs lots of people to talk to when you have three friends and your own mind to converse with?
I feel no desire to interact with others, for the most part. There is a select group of people (5~15) that I will actually speak to for extended times without getting irritated by them. I only 'open up' to three of them, at the moment.

[FruitLoop]

In terms of growth? Yes.

Eventually we have to develop our E as a responsible contribution. It's no good just accepting extroverts contributions and not returning them (or at least trying to) - that just drains resources. So ok we're never going to be a natural at it, but I feel inclined to put some effort in, and I feel that my life is better for it.

[Reizu]

I could only consider such a thing if I were the type who actually wanted to talk to people, but wasn't able to for awkwardness' sake. However, I am perfectly capable of having a normal conversation with people, but just choose not to. There ARE the types who are awkward, and I suppose in that situation they are their own worst enemies. And then if you think long-term, introverts might miss out on random chance opportunities with potential employers or such because they were instead spending time in their rooms.

[SwedenF]

If you are introvert because you are too shy/insecure/what-have-you to talk to people, but deep down wished you could, then yes.

But if you are introvert by choice, because you simply don't care for much social interaction, then no.

[Tinpusher]

...Yes they are.

But not because they sometimes choose to shun human companionship, there is great benefit in alone time; it's because they spend too much time being self aware and usually criticising themselves.

Cut out the self criticism and you'll find life much more interesting. I listen, and if my brain decides to say "you shouldn't have done that..." I cut it off before it decides to dredge up my failings by thinking about building a bridge to span some gorge, or designing an engine, or trying to layer a guitar riff on a song I like.

[Sethis]

	Originally Posted by AureliaSeverina To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Are introverts their own (and each other's) worst enemies? Discuss.

Elaborate please. What made you ask this?

[Vagrant]

Introverts are only their own worst enemies as much as they choose to fight themselves.

...whaaaaa?

(Point being that if you're sabotaging yourself, you haven't found your balance)

[scorpiomover]

	Originally Posted by AureliaSeverina To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Are introverts their own (and each other's) worst enemies? Discuss.

Depends. Jung defined extraverts as being those who are object-oriented. In their extremes, the object forms their total focus, to the exclusion of themselves, including their own behaviour, and the damage they cause, thus resulting in impuse control disorders, such as the Cluster B disorders, which Freud seemed to be much more concerned with.

Intraverts, as Jung defined them, are people who are self-oriented. They are fully aware of their own selves, and their own ideas, but not that aware of what is around them. Their extremes tend them towards disorders that result from being far too aware of oneself, and one's own problems, and far too unaware of what is around them. Their lack of awareness of the object in their pursuits, makes them much less aware of how the object functions, and how it can be manipulated. As a result, the extremes of their nature, result in people who are so unaware of how to manipulate their external environment, and others around them, that their attempts to manipulate others and their surroundings, are extremely likely to be ineffectual. So their effects on others, is unsubstantial.

Their awareness of their own self, is so high, that they have a great degree of understanding of how to manipulate their own selves, even if it is subconscious. As a consequence, they are much more likely to have a large effect on themselves, for good or for ill.

However, because they have so little effect on their environment, their environment largely is un-impacted by them, and so largely, their effects go unobserved. As a result, there is little in the way of the natural reactive effect from their environment and others, that is the cause of so many problems.

In addition, their focus on themselves, and lack of focus on others, results in themselves being out of step with others, and so are often seen as odd, and unable to function in a team environment. As a result, their oddness results in an even more solitary existence, that in turn, means that their environment and others have even less impact on them.

In principle, that would mean they are their own worst enemy.

However, if we observe human behaviour, we can see quite clearly, that we all exist within an environment, and that the environment and others has the greatest effect on anything, including on ourselves. As a result, the greatest harm that introverts could have, comes from the areas of their life that they shirk from, and that as a result, ignores them for the most part, and so, while they are the source of their greatest harm, in reality, compared to what happens in the real world, they do not suffer from the majority of harm.

Their biggest source of harm, and their biggest source of pain, is their ineffectualness to effect their environment and their society, that results from them turning their focus away from their environment and others.

They could change society for the better, but, being so inwardly-focussed, rarely try to do so, and when they do, their lack of focus on their environment and others, leaves them with a distinct lack of understanding of their environment and others, that is a prerequisite for manipulating their environment and others. So they have great dreams of changing society for the better, but rarely implement them, and when they do, they usually seem to go wrong, and so they live with a great sense of disappointment.

In addition, they could get a lot of help from others, and from their environment, as that is the major source of influence in anyone's life. But their lack of outward focus, makes them rarely even consider to ask others to help, and when they do, their lack of understanding of how to communicate with others outside of their inner circle of friends, often results in such requests being totally misunderstood, resulting in such requests either being ignored, or the help provided does not provide what they asked for and require. As a result, they miss out on many opportunities to make their life better.

So, while in principle, I would agree that intraverts are their own worst enemy, I would be inclined to describe this more accurately, as their lack of outward awareness and understanding, denies them much of the benefits that could come from their environment and the people around them. They are the could-have-beens, if they only learned how to work in a team, and get others to help them achieve their goals.

[MissionPossible]

I don't believe that is true, because I am living proof of the opposite: I am my own first and best friend and I don't screw myself up or get in the way of me having a good life.

It isn't introversion or extroversion that makes anyone their own worst or best friend, but the choices we make to effectively and happily live in the reality we exist in.

Introvert or extrovert, we all have the power to be our own worst enemies, should we so choose...or never learn to do any better.

[Anthony Fineran]

With extraversion linked to happiness, introverts would seem to prefer the still gloom of sadness. i think sadness can be appreciated though. there's this old composer called dowland whose music makes me think that.

[Rivers]

I consider myself very cool and I don't have the slightest need to change something. Thus, I can't be my own enemy, that would incline that there's something wrong with me. Of course, many extraverts would indeed say so, but I can't value their opinions since they're my total opposite.

[fsmo]

Regardless of temperament, people can be their own wost enemy and/or each others worst enemy.

	Originally Posted by Anthony Fineran To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	With extraversion linked to happiness, introverts would seem to prefer the still gloom of sadness.

How is extroversion linked to happiness? Clearly the culture in the U.S. is biased and the social norms for what happy people should act like are defined as extroverted qualities but that doesn't make it correct. I'm happy most of the time and I'm extremely introverted. Introverted activities make me happy. Extroverted people perceive my behavior as unhappy because they lack understanding but that doesn't mean I'm sad.

[theiceman]

All people become their own worst enemies at some point in life. While it is different for both extraverts and introverts the same universal logic applies at this point. During some point in every human's life, they are going to find out that they are their own worst enemy. I'm sure everybody here can think of a moment like that.

[MissionPossible]

	Originally Posted by Anthony Fineran To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	With extraversion linked to happiness, introverts would seem to prefer the still gloom of sadness. i think sadness can be appreciated though.

Extraversion does have correlation (a link) with happiness, but people often misunderstand what that means. First, the existence of a correlation between two elements does not necessarily mean that there is a causal relationship between the two elements. Second, every person has to engage in both extraversion and introversion in order to live life in human society. Third, we each engage in extraversion and introversion to our own personal degrees and in our own personal ways. Fifth, there are many more specific factors that are far more directly related to happiness and not all of them are necessarily related to extraversion. Some examples are having ones basic physical needs met, curiosity, purpose in life, self-efficacy, a sense of belonging (which does not have to include people or extraversion because belonging can be about time, space, situation, and what you are doing with it), self-acceptance and enjoyment of being oneself....etc.

As for sadness and other negative experiences, I do agree. They have a value in that not only do they provide a broader range of experience and food for thought, but without negatives, how would we truly enjoy and value those experiences that we consider as positive? Negatives are a part of the whole of reality and without them, I do believe there would be very little reason to think of such a concept as "happiness" and humanity might be very well oblivious of such matters.

[Antares]

Not really. I'm happy alone.

[MissionPossible]

There are some very happy introverts out here in reality and I am one of them. I think there are many factors that combine to make me a happy kind of person that some people can only shake their head at. I have taken advantage of my potential to ensure that I am happy. My basic needs are met. I know that I can do nearly everything I decide to do. I choose what I want and what I want to do, with good critical thinking skills and a reasonably open heart. I am very curious and I really enjoy being myself. I extravert as much as interests me and benefits me and then I go enjoy being my more preferred introverted self. Happiness isn't a zero sum game of elements available to one huge part of the population; its a rich stew that most of us are capable of cooking up.

[Marcus Septim]

	Originally Posted by AureliaSeverina To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Are introverts their own (and each other's) worst enemies? Discuss.

Yes,when they lose themselfs inside their own head space,afraid or unknowlegable to get out

[Forte]

No. I think we all can be our own worst enemy... I don't consider myself anyone's enemy, and I don't consider any person my enemy at this point in my life.

I am an introvert, but i like being this way. I like being a quiet thinker. Most aren't like that now a days. It's like everyone's screaming, "listen to me!" I like being in the back ground an studying everything.

[AureliaSeverina]

	Originally Posted by Sethis To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Elaborate please. What made you ask this?

Are introverts their own worst enemies? - As in: e.g. do some introverts beat themselves up and try to deny their nature when other people (e.g. extroverts) don't even expect them to be any different?

Are introverts each others worst enemy? - E.g. where I work, some introverts have a go at each other for being boring etc. whereas most extraverts don't make these comments and accept that introverts are different


Thanks for all your interesting posts so far, everyone. Sorry I haven't been around for a while, will reply to them in more detail later.

[snappdragon]

The ONLY time I was my own worst enemy, was when I was young, naive, and from pier pressure, trying, unsuccessfully, to act like an extrovert! I'm much wiser and happier, now!

[milktea]

not really. if i am alone with myself i don't find my introversion is an enemy. i also find other introverts are good since they tend not to intervene with other people's business.

but currently, i find that most people will find extraverts are in "higher" positions (skills, communication, convincing people, know how to have fun and be the fun themselves, etc) which sometimes makes the introverts feel there's something wrong with them.

[mrvontar]

No one is their own worst enemy. Intro may be more likely to hate themselves just because of how they view themselves, of course that would be because you've failed in life. No one who respects themselves enough to act according to their own virtues would hate themselves.