The Introvert in the "Wild"

This is a funny video that reminds me of a nature show covering introverts in the wild.  Enjoy. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y-RoL3Xl0u8

Amazing Personality Type Descriptions

This is an INTJ link but the site is the most accurate in describing all personality types that I've had the pleasure to read so far.  Enjoy!

http://www.16personalities.com/intj-personality-and-emotions

Why Are Introverts So Introverted

This is another great article about the difference in an introvert and extravert brain:

http://annablogia.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/why-introverts-are-so-introverted/

A Misguided Introvert Teaching Article

Please excuse my short rant against this article:

"Introverted Kids Need to Learn to Speak Up at School"
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/02/introverted-kids-need-to-learn-to-speak-up-at-school/272960/

This is a really great example of how misunderstood introverts are and the incorrect assumptions made about them.  Basically, this is a self-admitted extraverted teacher forcing introverts to act like extraverts.  Any real science will tell you that introverts brains are physically different and that this can't/shouldn't be done.  Her world view is obviously U.S.-centric as she advocates extraversion as correct and the only path to follow... even though places like China, with way more population than the U.S., generally value introversion and see it as a sign of respect.  Finally, she obviously does not have a grasp of the difference in introversion and shyness.

"I am aware that as an extrovert, I naturally teach to and understand the needs of extroverts."
Kudos for being up front about this.  Now, exactly what makes you qualified to speak for introverts and how they should be taught?  Ah, you read some Susan Cain book.

"However, I also teach introverts, who live in fear of being asked these sorts of questions."
Introvert does not equal shy.

"If you can't speak up for yourself, if you can't muster the courage to tell the person you love that you love them, if you can't advocate for your own safety, the world will be a very intimidating and frightening place. I don't want my kids to be intimidated by the world."
Again, mixing up introversion and shyness.  Imagine Sheldon in Big Bang Theory.  He is certainly an introvert (ISTJ probably).  Does he have _any_ problem at all speaking up for himself?  Does he seem afraid of the world or intimidated by it?  I realize that this is a exaggerated fictional character but it is a great example that everyone can probably find to a lessor extent in their own interactions.


I'll speak a little about myself in school.  First, I was not very vocal because I am a very visual oriented person.  Auditory data is very hard for me to parse but I can take visual data and quickly interpret and expand upon it.  Written communications are more precise and understandable for me.  So visual vs auditory learning may be why some students are not "participating" as much as you would like.  Forcing extraverted behavior is probably detrimental to your students learning if they are in a similar situation.

Next up: While teachers were slowly talking their way through whatever topic was being discussed, I had already read the chapter we were on, understood it and was generally reading the next chapter (or usually chapters that the class would never cover if it was an interesting topic for me).  I was bored with the slow pace to be quite honest.  Most classrooms have to teach to the speed of the slowest learning members.  I hold no ill will and I know it is hard to make smaller, more agile classes.  When you force this oral participation, you mandate that kids stay at the same lowest common denominator rate that you are teaching.  That doesn't seem fair to the bored, faster learners in class.  But hey, they must just be scared little introverts that need to be brought out of their shell right?

Introverts need more time to process information.  See some previous articles for the science behind that.  This seems very applicable to iNtuitives as they need to understand how this new data fits into the web of knowledge they hold and understand the interactions that may result.  Sensors are able to take data for its face value and process it mentally more quickly.  Being intuitive is great for inventiveness and finding new ways to look at topics but it also slows down the processing of new data.  This means that some introverts and intuitive personality types may not be able to speak quickly to a new topic as they need time to digest the information.  Calling on a student that is in the process of internalizing information may disrupt the process and cause them to have difficulty answering in a way that makes sense.

Finally, let me talk a little about how insanely "anti-intellectual" kids were when I was in school.  Being smart was not "cool".  Being very smart was isolating and quite honestly caused me to be the victim of much physical and mental violence/bullying.  You know why I didn't raise my hand to answer a question (that I could usually practically answer in my sleep)?  I didn't want to get beaten up again or become more isolated!  So you force some poor smart kids to face that reality or make them basically lie and act stupid.  Yes, I've done that too.  I used to purposely miss just enough test answers to always make a C.  C is average right?  One year, I decided to make all Cs to stop messing up the grading curve for the rest of the class and hopefully become more accepted socially.  You may be contributing to more bullying with the view you have taken in this article.

Myers-Briggs Chart

This is a very good high level chart to describe MBTIs.  For each color, most people tend to favor the left or right side.  This doesn't replace an MBTI test but it can help.

Cognitive Functions

This topic is actually very important once you have discovered what your MBTI is.  I will use, surprise surprise, my INTJ personality type as an example for this article but please look up your own information to learn more about yourself.  We've covered what each of the letters means and how it shapes your thinking about the world already.  Now, let's discuss the default behavioral pattern hierarchy derived from the MBTI.

There is an order of behavioral preference or default role in which a person will be most comfortable based on personality type.  The order is defined (from most comfortable to least):

• Dominant - the dominant information gathering function (Sensing or iNtuition)
• Auxiliary - the decision making function (Thinking or Feeling)
• Tertiary - usually develops more with age
• Inferior - the least developed function, often viewed as the most problematic personality trait

Note: I will leave shadow functions for another discussion.

The INTJ cognitive functions are:

Order	Function	Role	Description
Dominant	Introverted iNtuition (Ni)	Leading	Great at synthesizing complex data, foreseeing implications, attracted to symbolic actions or devices
Auxiliary	Extraverted Thinking (Te)	Supporting	Efficient, organized, productive, seeks logical explanations for events, searches for faulty reasoning, good at breaking down a complex task into smaller/manageable pieces
Tertiary	Introverted Feeling (Fi)	Relief	Values such as harmony and authenticity, senses what is true vs. false, used to judge worth based on sometimes intangible criteria
Inferior	Extraverted Sensing (Se)	Aspirational	Focuses on immediate and physical world experiences and sensations. Awareness of present surroundings. May lead to spontaneous action.

As can be extrapolated from above, INTJs tend to love big, complex problems to solve and like breaking down the problem to be solved in an efficient manner.  Nothing makes me more happy at work than to have to sit down for days or weeks to solve such a problem in an uninterrupted manner.  Luckily, many work places value this drive to solve hard problems and need to see the solution to fruition if the right position for the INTJ can be found.  I would likely be fired from a sales or marketing job (sensing and feeling oriented jobs) but engineering and science is very natural to me.

Each personality type has a cognitive function breakdown.  I encourage you to look yours up and understand yet another piece of your own needs, drive and goals.

This article is actually quite good in describing INTJ cognitive functions even though it is a comparison with another type:
http://psyphics.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/infj-vs-intj-part-1/

The Introvert Need for Space

A friend posted this really great article titled "Introverts Explained: Why We Love You But Need to Get Away From You".

Having experienced this need to sometimes be alone in my own life and seeing how it unfortunately occasionally hurts those around me who don't understand, I thought I might provide some insight and suggestions to both introverts and extraverts that has helped in my own life.

Introverts

• The first step is self realization that you are indeed an introvert.  Plenty of articles and tests in this blog will help you on your way.  Please, take them even if you don't think you are one because society often mixes shyness, awkwardness and other things with introversion confusing the process.
• This may sound easy and obvious but I did not truly realize that I am an introvert and what it means until "mid life".
• Internalize that most people do not think quite the same way you do, do not have the same types of needs as you and will often misunderstand/be hurt by some of your behaviors (including the need to be alone sometimes to recharge energy).
• Do not assume that family and your closest friends are an exception to the rule above.  I made that mistake many times and have had to work hard to unwind the damage done by that assumption.
• Be vocal about being a proud member of the introvert community and explain what it means and what it does not mean.  I even include a link in my email signature at work to my personality type description.  Again, society as a whole has a profoundly different view of what introversion means from reality sometimes.  Getting the word out will help you avoid misunderstandings in your own life and will help both introverts and extraverts get along better.
• If you think something like: "Surely family/friends/co-workers understand that I need ..." then you probably need to explain what "..." is explicitly and reaffirm that it is not something they have done.  "..." for me is typically: space, time to think, time to unwind after work and such.
• To some extraverts, it seems to be a serious insult to want to avoid their company so please explain what is happening.

Extraverts

• Take the introversion tests.  There is a scale of introversion and it is good to understand where you lie on that scale.  It may explain why you are tired or grumpy sometimes (low on energy).  Nobody is 100% introvert or 100% extravert (that isn't in an insane asylum most likely).  Who knows, you may find that you are an introvert and a whole new way of life can be explored which may make you happier.
• Read about introversion and try to understand what it really means.  It isn't a disease or mental problem.  It isn't something that can be overcome (nor should it).  It isn't shyness.  It isn't awkwardness or clumsiness.
• If someone avoids you at times but seems to be friendly at other times, try to understand that they may be an introvert and need time to recharge energy (and they may not even know it!).