Introvert or extrovert?

Willis Gravning · Feb 1, 2016

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I read a comment (not here) of someone who complained he didn't feel comfortable in church because he was an introvert while most of the people there were extroverts. It causes me to wonder if church attendance is more attractive to extroverts. I was raised in a fundamentalist type church and I remember everyone gathering into groups and conversing after the service while I, being more an introvert, kind of quietly sneaked away. My dad is an introvert and church always made him feel uncomfortable.

Butterfly99 · Feb 1, 2016

Can't you be a bit of both? I am.

supersoldier71 · Feb 1, 2016

Those two terms describe how an individual re-gains their energy. Extroverts gain it by being around other people, introverts gain it by being alone or in very small groups.

Being uncomfortable in social settings is exclusive to neither.

If uncomfortable in church, it may be that neither introversion, nor social discomfort is the root cause?

LaSorcia · Feb 1, 2016

Butterfly99 said:
Can't you be a bit of both? I am.

That's called an ambivert.

And yes, some people lean more towards the middle of the I/E scale.

quatona · Feb 1, 2016

supersoldier71 said:
Those two terms describe how an individual re-gains their energy. Extroverts gain it by being around other people, introverts gain it by being alone or in very small groups.

Being uncomfortable in social settings is exclusive to neither.

This.

GrowingSmaller · Feb 2, 2016

That, and the other.

GrowingSmaller · Feb 2, 2016

Im a solipsist by the way, now where is my dinner!!!!

TastyWallet · Feb 2, 2016

If it helps, I am an introvert who became more comfortable at church once I got to know some people there. Then, I was able to open up a bit more.

SkyWriting · Feb 2, 2016

Willis Gravning said:
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I read a comment (not here) of someone who complained he didn't feel comfortable in church because he was an introvert while most of the people there were extroverts. It causes me to wonder if church attendance is more attractive to extroverts. I was raised in a fundamentalist type church and I remember everyone gathering into groups and conversing after the service while I, being more an introvert, kind of quietly sneaked away. My dad is an introvert and church always made him feel uncomfortable.

It has been concluded by researchers that people are omniverts and adapt
to various situations as needed.

brinny · Feb 2, 2016

i'm an extrovert, but i don't have a liking for "cliques"

Willis Gravning · Feb 2, 2016

supersoldier71 said:
Those two terms describe how an individual re-gains their energy. Extroverts gain it by being around other people, introverts gain it by being alone or in very small groups.

Being uncomfortable in social settings is exclusive to neither.

If uncomfortable in church, it may be that neither introversion, nor social discomfort is the root cause?

About 30 years ago I converted to the Catholic Church and am quite at ease there. I think it is more introvert friendly. Being an introvert doesn't mean anti-social. I don't mind being around others but I'm not very good at conversing at length about trivial matters. I'm a little envious of those who can though.

GrowingSmaller · Feb 3, 2016

I am an extrovert but cant remember peoples names, so I am stuck with an introverted life.

Willis Gravning · Feb 3, 2016

GrowingSmaller said:
I am an extrovert but cant remember peoples names, so I am stuck with an introverted life.

I have that problem too.

Eudaimonist · Feb 3, 2016

I am an introvert, but I didn't not cease to be a Christian because I felt uncomfortable in church. Church actually felt comfortable to me as an introvert because it gave the perfect environment for me to be "by myself" in quiet meditation even in the presence of other people.

I am an ex-Catholic, btw.

eudaimonia,

Mark

Paradoxum · Feb 5, 2016

I'm an introvert, and naturally shy, but I liked church and talking to my friends after church.

Eryk · Feb 5, 2016

Introvert. I can happily be alone for days on end. I also like to greet and talk to people. I have to be extroverted on my job, training and leading people, and I'm quite cheerful. But I can't be that way all the time. I need solitude. I don't need company.

PloverWing · Feb 6, 2016

Introvert. Growing up in a Baptist church, I felt uncomfortable in settings where I had to make up prayers to pray in front of a group, because after a couple of sentences I'd run out of things to say, and then what? And my mind wandered during other people's long, rambly prayers.

The liturgical structure of my current church is a much better fit for me: since there's a script to follow, I can let go of my performance anxiety. And there are stretches of wonderful silence when I can stop paying attention to people and focus on God instead.

Deidre32 · Feb 6, 2016

I'd prefer being an introvert, my job requires me to be an extrovert. I enjoy being social and such, but there are times when being alone suits me better. Maybe I'm in the middle.

FrumiousBandersnatch · Feb 7, 2016

I'm an introvert, but no longer shy. The less I see of people, the more sociable I become.

bhsmte · Feb 7, 2016

supersoldier71 said:
Those two terms describe how an individual re-gains their energy. Extroverts gain it by being around other people, introverts gain it by being alone or in very small groups.

Being uncomfortable in social settings is exclusive to neither.

If uncomfortable in church, it may be that neither introversion, nor social discomfort is the root cause?

Agree, you can also say, extroverts fill psychological needs by interacting freely with others and introverts fill their psychological needs by being in smaller groups and or along more often.

One fallacy about introverts, is that they are simply "shy" and this is why they avoid larger groups and social interaction more often. In reality, it is really about psychological need and introverts simply don't have the same motivation to interact as often with others, that extroverts do. Introverts, can be quite social and interactive, in situations they find intellectually stimulating, but they tend to really dislike what they deem to be meaningless discussion. Extroverts, tend to like and or desire the attention, that comes with engaging other people.

Lastly, if someone is not comfortable in church, it could have more to do with the message being delivered is something they are having a hard time reconciling in their own mind, and have little to do with whether they are introverted or extroverted.

Introvert or extrovert?

St. Francis of Assisi

Getting ready for spring break. Cya!

Sinner, saved by Grace

Well-Known Member

"God"? What do you mean??

Muslm Humanist

Muslm Humanist

Active Member

The Librarian

everlovin' shiner of light in dark places

St. Francis of Assisi

Muslm Humanist

St. Francis of Assisi

I believe in life before death!

Liberty, Equality, Solidarity!

Well-Known Member

Episcopalian

Follow Thy Heart

Well-Known Member

Newbie

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency