Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Introverts vs Extroverts (Rest of the society, or so the extroverts think)
Was reading an article yesterday about "
Oppressed Group: Schizoid A Personality Not a Disorder"
"Schizoid personality disorder is a psychiatric
condition characterized by a lifelong pattern of indifference to others
and social isolation" (Medline Plus). In real life personality disorders are not as simple as yes you have and no you don't have. Everyone of us has personality disorders, be it antisocial, narcissistic, histrionic, etc, we all have it in varying degrees. Some people display more of it than others. Anyway back to the article, Basically the one point that the author made that struck me was about how society thinks being an extrovert is normal while an introvert or extreme introvert (or schizoid PD) is abnormal, and they need to be assimilated into our society of extroverts.
I think it is the very same argument that we try to use to get some of our friends to open up. Because opening up made us happier, than keeping it all inside, so we base our judgement on that and think that those introverts are not happy while keeping their thoughts and feelings hidden inside. It would not be wrong for people who are introverts-extroverts, and the varying degrees of extroversion. But for people who are purely introverts, it is going to be really difficult for them to accept such an idea. For the people who argued that way, maybe deep inside they know that maybe being introverted and all is good for that particular person, but getting them to open up to you is really very difficult so you use a last ditch method (sorta like an emotional blackmail, on top of "we're normal you are not" message). I've done it before and then thought about it, but i guess it didn't really strike me in such a manner, just the i wouldn't like it if someone tried to change me. Only a really shallow understanding of the other person's feelings.
Unknown at 10:03 am