Recent brain research and Jung's ideas

[Insider]

Carl Jung believed that we grow toward our opposite as we age......introverts would become more extroverted. (Not necessarily making it to the other side, just moving in that direction)  Does the new brain research place his beliefs in question now that we are beginning to speculate that extroversion/introversion is genetic?

[GroovyCD]

I think it does. I am 23, and becoming more extroverted is not on my list of areas of personal growth I would like to pursue, simply for the reason that I am happiest behaving in ways that come naturally to me.

All too often, introversion and shyness become confused. Although I don't want to become more extroverted, I would like to become less shy. I want to be less ambivalent about talking to people that interest me. I don't want to talk more to people who are too hyper to hold a conversation, self-absorbed, etc.

By becoming less shy, my observable behavior would be more extroverted, but I wouldn't be any more extroverted than I was originally, since some of what's making me a quiet person now is attributable to shyness rather than introversion. Unfortunately, these concepts are very difficult to tease apart, and it's tough for me to tell whether my behavior in a given situation is due to shyness, introversion, or both.

As for extroverts becoming more introverted as they age, I think much of this has to do with the physical aging process that necessitates slowing down, as Marti stated in her book.

[teodoro]

I think what Jung was actually talking about regarding introversion and extroversion related to his ideas about wholeness in which one would strive to develop a balance between the two. 

[GroovyCD]

But I think that balance is different depending on the person. The recent brain research shows that some people are physiologically more introverted than others.

[victoria_75232]

I can understand what Jung is saying. as you get older you are more in control of your feelings you understand them more and you know how to adjust them to reach your goals. Also, as you reach more of your goals you may use those old successes to build new goals and to expand your life. For example, if you don't like to network but need to for a job after a while you develop tool and techniques to do it better and then use that skill to get better and better jobs.

[Orion]

Instead of "becoming more extroverted" I believe the long-term goal, at least for me, is to become comfortable in my own skin. I am young and still have plenty of time to work on that. I believe once we become more comfortable in our own skin, we are more excited about our ambitions, goals, etc, which also makes us respect ourselves more.

[radames]

I think I have the same opinion as Orion in this matter.  As I become more comfortable being introverted and when I stop lying to myself, I can finally relax in being me.  I can learn what I like and dislike, what I am good at, and that in which I am not yet skilled.  I can apply myself in these areas and be very content.  I may look extroverted at those times but actually be comfortably introverted.

[niki]

Carl Jung believed that we grow toward our opposite as we age......introverts would become more extroverted.

I would have thought that people tend to become more introverted as they age...they slow down, don't like the hustle and bustle so much anymore because they move slower, think slower etc. That's how it seems to me anyway. If you ever notice restaurants where the old fogies tend to go (which are the kind I search out!) it's always quieter. And I don't think they go there because of the early bird specials, I think they just prefer the quieter places, not the places with dim lights, loud music and lots of drinking. Doesn't one kind of restaurant seem geared towards extroverts (or you could say, young people) and the other is geared towards introverts (or you could say old people)?

I once had an argument with a friend (we were both in our mid-30s) who couldn't believe that I really thought my ideas of "fun" where really fun to me lol. She thought I was either being an old fogie or else depressed. Either way, she thought I needed to learn how to have fun. She couldn't comprehend that I'd have different ideas of fun than her.

[radames]

I think that the idea of innies becoming more outies as they age has to do with confidence, maturation, assertiveness, and experience.  A person who knows what they want and have the courage to go out and get it because they know what could happen in a number of different scenarios has been conditioned in a way.  If one increases the level of conditioning for a certain activity then they become better, more efficient, and more skilled at that activity.  I believe that is is the same with life.  Innies appear more outgoing because they have found a way to be themselves without needing to be accepted by others and are comforted in that ability.  Outies are fine being more even-tempered because they have grown weary of being so darn excitable all of the time and grow more focused on things that are most important to them, instead of trying to do everything they can in life.  They are more content with life as a result and it makes them appear less stressed and active.

[flame]

I like what you wrote about how we appear more outgoing the more we are able to accept ourselves as innies, and I think that's true and is something more to add to the list of why we are so cool...we don't need as much external validation as extroverted people do, as we have HAD to give it to ourselves and, in a way, isn't it more real to give acceptance to ourselves rather than spend a lifetime trying to get it from others, and often being continually disappointed and never really getting it, and acting out in ways that would be looked upon later, in retrospect, with embarrassment and puzzlement, and sometimes shame? We do the "hard yards" but I think we reap many benefits that extroverted personalities will NEVER know, and maybe it's in these unseen things that real treasure lies?

[Amelie]

I have been married to an extrovert for 20 years, and he certainly has become more introverted.  He doesn't do crazy things as much, isn't anywhere near as energised, but he still hates being on his own, can't sit still for too long and has to be active, or talking to others.  In fact, I don't think he has ever had to spend any amount of time on his own ever. 

In contrast, I work from home, love it when everyone else is out of the house etc, but as I have aged, I have become far more confident with my own ideas.  I attended a class at college some time ago, and loved sharing my thoughts, but still had that horrible heart pounding anticipation when speaking out.  I also found the whole experience too stimulating which I didn't when I first went to college after I left school.

Maybe what happens is that we become more sensitive as we age, lose our energy etc, which makes it look like the extroverts are becoming quieter, but the introverts are just becoming grumpy old men and women.

[flame]

Can premature grumpiness set in? I'm only 34 and I've been grumpy for years!

[Amelie]

Maybe now we are all learning more about introversion, we will be able to moderate the 'grumpiness', or at the very least explain why we get to that point in the first place.