What in the world does being an introvert mean?

The beautiful thing about being me is that I don't generally feel like I have to agree with everything everyone says.  Most of the time, it's just that:  I just don't agree.  Other stuff, I just don't care.

I took the BuzzFeed quiz, on just how much of an introvert are you?  I found some of the stuff on that list very, very inaccurate.

In Counseling Psychology, the teacher, who I like and respect very much, said that introverts aren't good in the field.  They're nerdy, and they don't have good communication skills.

I didn't say anything but, Govannon help me, I wanted to.

I'm INFP personality type--most of the time, on most of the quizzes, that's what I get.  The type is overrepresented in that field.  I is for introvert.  Introverts dominate counseling, apparently.  The name is the Healer, or Idealist.  But still, healer.  (I can very well admit to being an undercover idealist, but healer?  Eh...)  Still, I'm not a case study, and no one is ever meant to be.  But most of the time, I get INFP.

There's a difference between being introverted and being a nerd.  There's a high likelihood that both will be present, but one does not necessitate the other.

So, time to look up just what introversion is:

Merriam-Webster just states, "a reserved or shy person."

Dictonary.com:  
noun

1.  a shy person.

2.  Psychology . a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings (opposed to extrovert ). 

 

 word origin:

 

1654 (implied in introversion), from L. intro- "inward" + vertere "to turn" (see versus). Introverted (adj.) is from 1781. The noun (opposed to extrovert) is 1918, from Ger. psychology, introduced there by C.G. Jung (1875-1961).

 

Urban Dictionary:

 

Opposite of extrovert. A person who is energized by spending time alone. Often found in their homes, libraries, quiet parks that not many people know about, or other secluded places, introverts like to think and be alone.
Contrary to popular belief, not all introverts are shy. Some may have great social lives and love talking to their friends but just need some time to be alone to "recharge" afterwards. The word "Introvert" has negative connotations that need to be destroyed. Introverts are simply misunderstood because the majority of the population consists of extroverts. 

 

Personally, I like Urban Dictionary's definition.

 

 

Oxford's Dictionary of Psychology:

A predominant concern with one's own thoughts and feelings rather than the outside world and social interaction, characterized by traits such as reserve, passivity, and silence, the negative pole of one of the Big Five personality factors, namely extraversion. The term first appeared in the mid 17th century, in a purely descriptive sense of turning one's thoughts inwards in spiritual contemplation, and it was introduced in its modern psychological sense in 1910 by Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961). Also called introversion-extraversion or extraversion-introversion. introvert n. A person prone to introversion. introverted adj. Characterized by introversion. [From Latin intro towards the inside or within+vertere to turn]

 

 Um, so, regarding Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com, it's just a type of person.  These are common, reputable sources.

Urban Dictionary is how the common Internetter understands the term.  Probably posted by an introvert, I'd bet half my library.

At the end of the day, Psychology is probably the authority on the term.  Even there, it's not a disorder.  It's not social awkwardness.  It's not being nerdy.  It's not having crappy communication skills.

It's just turning inward instead of turning out.

At work:  I'm a cashier.  I can do the pretty all through my shift.  I can make a little bit of small talk, and customers have told me I'm very polite, and that they wish more cashiers were nice like me.

After work:  When I get home, leave me the hell alone.  I've been dealing with rude people all shift, difficult customers, and I'm half-high from the stuff I've been cleaning with.  Leave.  Me.  Alone.  I want to read.  Or write.  Or something that doesn't require another person.

I'm in a similar temperament before work.  Leave me alone.  I'm about to have to deal with difficult people all day.

As far as social awkwardness and introversion, as psychology teachers like to say, "Correlation is not cause."  Although, in this case, it might be a causal factor.

I think, for someone who scores 80% introvert on a Myers-Briggs, I'm pretty well-adjusted.  

It's not a problem if it's not a problem.

Now, if you have avoidance personality disorder or one of the detachment disorders, then perhaps you have a problem.

But there is nothing wrong with being silent.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be alone.

There is nothing wrong with being an introvert--whatever the hell it means.