Introvert or Extrovert?

So true.  It makes life very complicated for everyone - wanting to either believe, or disbelieve, what you are told about yourself by other people on any given day or occasion.  Your impression of me in real life could vary MASSIVELY depending on circumstance.  I love your last line -

NAS49761 said:

Don't believe everything you read.

Bo poster has it right, people can be different day to day, It's not conclusive, if it were everyone with the same 'scored' personality type would function and think exactly the same and they don't.

There are far too many variables from the minute we are born for us to end up as 'textbook' types which is why we shouldn't take it too seriously, in fact, if you ever encounter a mental health professional who calls you a 'textbook' example, leave.

For example, the type I came out as are apparently strong strategists and leaders, 'strategy' is one of my major 'deficits' and I could never be a leader.

Don't believe everything you read.

I perfect explanation for not getting diagnosed for 28 years and never be supported by anyone.

I was an INFP-A, so I’m autistic terms: Too agreeable to be flagged as autistic, too weird to be neurotypical; I would say that INFP-A is the personality type most likely to be exploited and most likely to mask there problems for fear of being disagreeable.

I would say it's kind of irrelevant for me, at least, as because of anxiety and mental health it all depends on how I am on that day. Some days I feel like I could go out and meet someone but others I need to stay in and avoid people at all costs.

So for me, it feels like one day I could be up to it and others I can't. So I think it's irrelevant. I'm not one specifically, it alters depending on anxiety, moods and mentality.

id say i'm an introvert, if i am in a group (shudder) i tend to stand back and listen from the fringes, if theres a dog or cat, then that is getting all my attention. i can hold a convo on the phone as thats part of my job, and i can text, but if i met any forum members i would for sure clam up. i still  dont know for sure if i have Autism or if im just really shy and socially awkward ?

Without info-dumping, What Jung meant by these 2 different Types is far more interesting than modern mis-interpretation. Though the MBTI is still a good test for beginning to self-examine and become a little more understanding of how we might function. 

See this Wikipedia (it looks pulled out of his catalogue) https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Psychological_Types&action=edit&section=9

For the following rational and irrational can be replaced with mature and immature.

Psychological types

There are eight total combinations of the attitude-type and the function-type; the psychological types. They are categorised as extraverted rational types, extraverted irrational types, introverted rational types, and introverted irrational types.

Extraverted rational types judge concepts and situations by what is generally considered to be rational. They suppress subjective reason and perception, and if repression occurs, they fall under their influence via the unconscious. Repressed sensation can express itself in the form of compulsive pleasure-seeking, and suppressed intuition in the form of compulsive suspicion of the unpleasant and evil. The extraverted feeling type dispenses judgement according to what is acceptable for and in tune with the environment. The extraverted thinking type judges according to the objective facts and valid ideas of the environment. Repressed subjective judging in an extraverted feeling type leads to a surfacing of undeveloped, negative ideas that deprecate what is valued, and an absolutist character for them. In an extraveted thinking type, selfish intentions surface, the person becomes overly sensitive and dogmatic, and loses sight of everything not relevant to the formula or cause.

Extraverted irrational types are guided simply by events as they happen, without constant judgement, and they base themselves on experiences. They suppress subjective perception and reason. If judging is repressed, they become calculating and the person never stays put long enough to reap the fruits of their work. Thinking takes the form of apparent sophistries or pedantry, and feeling of ruthlessness or puritanism. The extraverted sensation type is guided by experiences and is always on the lookout for new ones that excite the senses and are enjoyable. The extraverted intuitive type is guided by new ideas and possibilities in the making. Repressed subjective perception in an extraverted sensation type causes an unscrupulous search for stimulation, and unconscious intuition supplies wild suspicions, phobias, superstitions, and religious streaks. In an extraverted intuitive type, hypochondria and absurd bodily sensations surface, and compulsive attachments to certain sensations given by people.

Introverted rational types judge by their own principles. If objective judging is repressed, they become inflexible, navel-gazing, egotistical, and develop feelings of inferiority that they compensate for in the real world. The introverted thinking type is concerned with developing logical insights for its subjective ideas- an example is Kant. The introverted feeling type is also concerned with these ideas, but the person judges them with their feeling-values. Repressed objective judging in an introverted thinking type makes the person isolated, unsympathetic, sensitive to minor things that supposedly secretly concern the person, and aggressive in the face of criticism. In an introverted feeling type, the person becomes domineering, plotting, and forms many rivals.

Introverted irrational types are captivated by their subjective perception and inner world, chiefly as related to the collective unconscious. When objective perception is repressed, they become deluded and lose touch with reality. The introverted sensation type is guided by their perceptions that are merely suggested by the object in the moment, related to its aesthetic, becoming, and passing. This is seen when paintings of the same landscape differ not simply in ability. The introverted intuitive type is guided by associations of subjective perception, unrelated to real-world plausibility. Such a type, for example, could think of the image of a tottering man pierced through the heart by an arrow, when observing vertigo. When objective perception is repressed in an introverted sensing type, compulsive thoughts of external malevolence occur. The introverted intuitive type becomes a hypochondriac, sensitive in the sense organs, and compulsively tied to particular people or objects.

Interesting stuff. I don’t know the link between MBTI personality and autism but here is an excerpt from an assignment I did a few years back if anyone’s interested:

My completion of the MBTI assessment indicated that my most likely personality type was someone with introverted intuition with extraverted thinking (INTJ in the language of MBTI). This would suggest that I am likely to be an insightful and creative person who approaches problems from an objective and logical standpoint.  Furthermore, the assessment suggests that others see my logical side and not my intuition.  The analysis contained in the MBTI assessment booklet (Myers, Kirby and Myers, 2000) also lists areas for development for each personality type.  As I am a preferential intuitive and thinking person, I am likely to neglect the two opposing preferences, namely sensing and feeling.  In practical terms, it is suggested that this could lead to me not adequately considering the impact of my decisions on others, failing to give praise and developing an aloof and distant relationship with others.

That was interesting, apparently I'm an 'Architect INTJ-T' 93% introverted, 7% extraverted (that must be the part of me which reciprocates a hello to people) and not surprisingly being 'socially clueless' is on the list as one of my weaknesses.

Catlover said:

an ambivert,

Not heard that before....like it though!

Just to clarify, I understand why I like me, I just don't understand how others can see it...

I’m an introvert, I don’t think it’s anything to do with being autistic. I would say my daughter is an ambivert, although I don’t know how she actually defines herself. I know extroverts who are autistic. My ex is also an ambivert.

I am the same type as you.

Alice said:

I also don't understand why people like me

This is a big one for me.

Steven said:

I wanted to cut a flamboyant, glamorous, and Romantic figure;

Bryon or Shelley?

Steven said:

Actually, I wanted to be bookish

You were successful.

I wanted to cut a flamboyant, glamorous, and Romantic figure; unfortunately, I'm me.

(Actually, I wanted to be bookish)

I'm an introvert for sure. 

I'm beginning to understand more a lot of the lifelong problems I've had with verbal communication. I believe I inhabit a sort of middle area between verbal and non verbal autistic people. I much prefer to communicate in written form, by email, text, etc. 

I'm much more chatty on here than I've ever been in real life. However not as much as some others. I believe that introvert or extrovert traits can exist independently of autism.

I did that personality test a while ago and I'm ISTJ-T, a Logistician.

• Practical
• Honest and direct
• Independent
• Driven
• Dependable

Typical behaviours include:

• Making lists
• Sticking to routines
• Perfectionism
• Seeing everything they begin through to the end 

Hates include:

• Doing a subpar job 
• Working without a clear structure 
• Dealing with emotional matters 
• Not getting enough alone time 
• Dishonesty

100% extrovert. And I know for sure that I'm not the only one. People come in all shapes, sizes, preferences and neuro processes; yes, social situations can be difficult, but I generally prefer to be around people than not. However, I will admit that I don't feel bad about engaging with inanimate objects or disappearing for a while when I need to - regardless of the social norms that I probably break more than I realise. 

I'm very comfortable being myself (I am adept at choosing which "me" is appropriate for different situations) and it doesn't bother me if others like me or not. I don't feel the need for others approval. I also don't understand why people like me. I'm just happy that they do.

I feel that if I were an extrovert, I would probably be energised by spending time with other autistic people. I'm not though- any in-person social interaction wears me out, even when I don't have to mask the whole time.

The problem for me is that having physical disabilities means I got worn out pretty quickly when I go out anyway. It's been harder for me to figure out the difference between physical and mental exhaustion from going out than it has been to figure out what's specifically an autistic thing and what isn't.

Unknown said:

I’m just a major f&£k up if I’m honest! 

Maybe not?

I am also totally different online (ie typing text on this forum) to in real life because I'd be so nervous meeting the members here.

It's been pointed out to me that although generally quite a quiet reserved person, when I'm nervous I'm overwhelmingly talkative so that no-one else can speak.

I just gush.

However, I can also completely shut-up and not join in at all.