Is it possible to become an Extrovert if you are an introvert?

toonervoustotalk

20

As above

And please give advice :colonhash:

Reply 1

Davalla

20

Original post by toonervoustotalk

As above

And please give advice :colonhash:

You could've just Googled it and found this:
https://www.quora.com/Can-a-person-change-from-being-introvert-to-extrovert-or-vice-versa

Which is basically a TSR thread with professional input and without the wait for replies.

Reply 2

DiddyDec01

3

Yes. Alcohol.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 3

daveGIS

1

No but it's important to understand the difference. An introvert recharges by being alone and gets tired from socialising while an extrovert is... well... the opposite. This is basically the only difference except it means that introverts and extroverts become good at different things. It doesn't prevent one from learning the skills of the other if they practice. In fact some very public figures are introverts who have become good at extrovert skills such as public speaking, dancing or singing. The classic example is the US president Barrack Obama. It is quite often the case that once an introvert dedicates their considerable focus and analytical attitude to learning a skill they can exceed expectations and outshine extroverts at their own game.

Reply 4

Macy1998

9

Nope. Can change your behavior though!

Reply 5

toonervoustotalk

OP

20

Original post by daveGIS

No but it's important to understand the difference. An introvert recharges by being alone and gets tired from socialising while an extrovert is... well... the opposite. This is basically the only difference except it means that introverts and extroverts become good at different things. It doesn't prevent one from learning the skills of the other if they practice. In fact some very public figures are introverts who have become good at extrovert skills such as public speaking, dancing or singing. The classic example is the US president Barrack Obama. It is quite often the case that once an introvert dedicates their considerable focus and analytical attitude to learning a skill they can exceed expectations and outshine extroverts at their own game.

I never knew Obama was an introvert!!
There is hope for me lol

Reply 6

daveGIS

1

Original post by toonervoustotalk

I never knew Obama was an introvert!!
There is hope for me lol

There are a lot of introverts sitting in the top echelons of society! It's not a handicap but it is a challenge. As an introvert myself I can tell you things get easier as you get older so long as you take the opportunity to face your anxieties.

Reply 7

Dinasaurus

22

Yes, it's a bit pseudoscientific but recently I did a Myers-Briggs test and I was ENTP, and I am quite extroverted however I found my old account on TSR from 4 years ago and I had done the same test back then (I had forgotten) and I was INTP.

Obviously a personality test is not the only factor but I was definitely the quiet, nerdy kid a few years back whereas now I am quite different (although still nerdy)

Reply 8

Hannahamy74

1

Yes I would say so. It depends why you are extraverted though, for some it's social anxiety or just preferring to be less around people. If it's anxiety it can definitely be overcome or you can grow in confidence whereas preferences can change with exposure.

Reply 9

Hannahamy74

1

Sometimes its faking it ;-) trust me. does anyone know their MBTI. Super fun personality test and gets more than i would likme right. ENFP over here.

Reply 10

Zargabaath

21

Original post by DiddyDec

Yes. Alcohol.

Posted from TSR Mobile

The fix to all life's problems :lol:

Reply 11

lolakirk

11

No, you cannot change it and those who say you said you can don't know what introverted and extroverted mean. It doesn't work like 'I used to be shy but now I'm outgoing so now I'm an extrovert'.

Reply 12

jimjambles

2

I'd say so. When I was around 14 or 15 I used to find interacting with people exhausting because I had terrible social anxiety. Now I've kicked most of that and love being around people!

I like Myers-Briggs stuff, it describes me pretty well. I'm an ENFP too! ^_^

Reply 13

lolakirk

11

Original post by daveGIS

N An introvert recharges by being alone and gets tired from socialising while an extrovert is... well... the opposite.

Exactly.

Reply 14

Vanny17

19

You really don't have to change who you are. But if you want to know, it's when you stop caring about what people think of you. And that's one out of the many reasons of how to be happy in life.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 15

daveGIS

1

Original post by Vanny17

You really don't have to change who you are. But if you want to know, it's when you stop caring about what people think of you. And that's one out of the many reasons of how to be happy in life.

Posted from TSR Mobile

It's not about changing who you are. It's about learning new skills and facing your fears. I learnt to speak publicly as an adult but I wouldn't say I have changed who I am. Sure I'm more confident but is it really any different to say taking up golf or learning an instrument? Practice makes perfect.

Reply 16

whorace

2

Introversion and Extroversion is outdated pseudoscience that has not been challenged when it clearly should have been. Why is it that all of these quiet people are sometimes full of energy? Does that mean the scale is completely fluid? No the scale does not exist. In my opinion there is no such thing, it is a choice whether one is quiet or not, even if that may be an unconscious choice, lack of energy has nothing to do with personality but physiology and anxiety

Reply 17

daveGIS

1

Just thinking more about what you could do to be more confident and I remembered two excellent books that helped me.

The first is The Chimp Paradox by Prof Steve Fischer. It examines the drivers behind animalistic Human emotions like anxiety and fear, why they are an important part of our psychology but also measures we can take to override them when necessary using the logical part of our mind. Great book.

The second is Paul McKenna's I can make you confident. It's based more on positive thinking and comes with a hypnosis CD that boosts your confidence. I was never big into self help but I put it on before job interviews and stuff. It really does help!