I like this particular subject because I’ve been thinking about this topic as well. I do believe that the typical definitions of extrovert/introvert are a bit misleading. Dissecting what it means may be of help. For instance, when we mean energy I would translate that to mental resources. My capacity to handle stressful tasks can deplete my mental resources more. So if I were to define introvert, it would be more along the lines of being with people depletes my mental resources, and visa versa.
I don’t think people are necessarily an introvert or an extrovert. It’s probably easy to identify as one and feel the effects because you expect them. However, everybody is very complex and different, so categorizing people into introvert and extrovert seems to be an oversimplification. I can be outgoing or not depending on my current emotional state, the circumstances, or how mentally taxed I am. Not necessarily because I have a tendency towards introvert or extrovert. For example, when it comes to hosting a board game day, I feel lot’s of “energy” because I get excited and I enjoy the activity. I’m going to want to be more social so I can increase my chances of winning. If I’m at a party, I immediately feel bored and because of my experience in parties, typically don’t even want to engage with people. I also can feel mentally depleted just for being at a party. Likely, because of the stress of having to look good and having to feel like I need to make a good impression. I can guess why people would feel a burst of “energy” at parties though. I’d say it’s mainly the different expectations in the setting that would drain the energy. In either setting I’ve both experienced a lot of mental resources and sometimes not much. That’s where I think I agree with the original poster. Certain people are going to deplete your mental resources more than others, but whether you trust them or doesn’t seem to make difference. I trust my sister to a large degree, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t stress me out given the right situation.
I like this particular subject because I’ve been thinking about this topic as well. I do believe that the typical definitions of extrovert/introvert are a bit misleading. Dissecting what it means may be of help. For instance, when we mean energy I would translate that to mental resources. My capacity to handle stressful tasks can deplete my mental resources more. So if I were to define introvert, it would be more along the lines of being with people depletes my mental resources, and visa versa.
I don’t think people are necessarily an introvert or an extrovert. It’s probably easy to identify as one and feel the effects because you expect them. However, everybody is very complex and different, so categorizing people into introvert and extrovert seems to be an oversimplification. I can be outgoing or not depending on my current emotional state, the circumstances, or how mentally taxed I am. Not necessarily because I have a tendency towards introvert or extrovert. For example, when it comes to hosting a board game day, I feel lot’s of “energy” because I get excited and I enjoy the activity. I’m going to want to be more social so I can increase my chances of winning. If I’m at a party, I immediately feel bored and because of my experience in parties, typically don’t even want to engage with people. I also can feel mentally depleted just for being at a party. Likely, because of the stress of having to look good and having to feel like I need to make a good impression. I can guess why people would feel a burst of “energy” at parties though. I’d say it’s mainly the different expectations in the setting that would drain the energy. In either setting I’ve both experienced a lot of mental resources and sometimes not much. That’s where I think I agree with the original poster. Certain people are going to deplete your mental resources more than others, but whether you trust them or doesn’t seem to make difference. I trust my sister to a large degree, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t stress me out given the right situation.