Extraverted, that's me. Yes I talk quite a bit, but that's not nearly enough to know if someone is an Extravert or an introvert. I personally know several introverts who, once they start talking, won't be quiet long enough for me to get a word in edgewise.
As an extravert, I draw energy from engaging and talking - most of the time. More importantly, I think by talking. I form ideas through, primarily, language. Even if I'm being quiet, my inner dialog is in the form of a conversation between myself and either projections of people I know or made up archetypes. There's nearly always an inner dialog going on in my head. Often even when I'm talking.
The ideas I form also appear outside of myself. When I'm in some kind of technical discussion, I often am forming a visual model (often in UML, a bit embarrassing, I know) that I can almost see in front of me. Typically this model is around 18 inches away from me, but it can be larger and more distant depending on the size of the subject.
How do I know it's 18 inches? Well I point to it. It's a fairly regular occurrence for me to explain to a class that I'm pointing to a model that is right in front of me. I describe its parts and even show them where those parts are relatie to my position. It's strange, however, if I move. Often, when I move, the model stays put. Sometimes it tags along, but I've often made a physical reference (e.g., pointed to) a model that only existed in my head that's in another location in the room and is where I was when I created that model.
Of course I don't actually see a model. Instead, I have an idea of a model in my head, I'm a visual thinker, my visual cortex is engaged as if I were interacting with something outside of myself, so the experience is that there is a model outside of me.
So like language, visual processing also happens outside of me.
From my interactions with introverts, their experience is entirely different. Some think in terms of colors and sound, or at least that's as much as I can attempt to understand from their description of their internal process.
One thing is certain, typically introverts speak well formed, complete ideas. Ask them a question they have not answered and they could go silent. It's not that they are ignoring you. It's that they are processing it.
Do the same thing with me and I start talking. I might ask clarifying questions, I might go self-referential and describe the approach I'm taking, the categories of characteristics I'm interesting in looking into, etc. Then I might get back to asking questions, often onces I'd answer myself, and eventually I might get to an understanding.
Add to the mix that I talk fast, and sometimes I overwhelm (irritate, get on the nerves of) my introverted friends. Hell, sometimes I even get on my own nerves. And other, stronger, extraverts really get on my nerves!
That's one dimension of a model of me.
Remember:
- everything is a model
- all models are wrong
- some have value
Off to bed for a few hours until I have to get up and drive in Tel Aviv traffic.
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