Intraverts Vs. Extraverts

[ChenoInTraining]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 1:54am

I've heard it said that the actors who are intraverted tend to be the most amazing. Sutton Foster is very intraverted and shy and jsut look at her. I'm not saying it's a deciding factor, but i deffinatly think it is a big factor. Opinions...

[Aigoo]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 1:56am

...


Introverted and Extroverted.


Just for future reference. And I haven't noticed this at all, but Idina is said to be very shy as well. Whether Idina OR Sutton are both "amazing" are matters of opinion, and not fact. You might be able to measure how "successful" they are, but "success" is also a subjective term. I know where you're going with this, but I really don't think it effects it as much as you think it might.

Updated On: 12/4/05 at 01:56 AM

[iRuvPrinceton]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 1:56am

Sorry to be off topic right away, but aren't they spelled "Introverts" and "Extroverts"?

EDIT: Aigoo beat me to it!

Updated On: 12/4/05 at 01:56 AM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 2:00am

Not to be super picky, but you're both half right. It's "introverts" and "Extraverts," I believe.

Edit: apparently both "extrovert" and "extravert" show up in dictionaries, so I'm wrong. Odd, I totally thought I knew what I was talking about since I lectured on personality traits last week. Updated On: 12/4/05 at 02:00 AM

[Aigoo]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 2:02am

XD

To be even PICKIER, "extravert" is actually a variation of "extrovert".

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=extrovert

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 2:03am

Whatever the spelling, the truth of the matter is that both personality types do shows and do them well. The actor's personality type has NOTHING to do with who they are on stage except (hopefully) on an unnoticed level.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 2:03am

Yeah, I know.... I edited my message.

Gosh, and I thought that Word spellchecker was a reliable source. Anyway, yeah.

[JACXR71]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 2:07am

That threadjack made me smile. I love fellow spelling/grammar nazis

[Aigoo]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 2:09am

To stay on-topic, if what the topic creator says is true, it might be valid that "introverted" personalities have an easier time expressing themselves as a different person to an audience rather than as themselves. But really, I just think that it's coincidence. It's a limited spectrum of comparison and there's really no way to prove it due to the many subjective terms.

Updated On: 12/4/05 at 02:09 AM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 2:18am

Yes, but now I feel bad, so let's get back to the topic.

Given that introverts tend to be more inward-looking and pensive (total generalization), I think it's true that they might have a better grasp of the deeper emotions and that may come through better in their acting. On the other hand, you could argue extroverts are more likely to be actors in the first place, since they're more open to putting themselves out there. Introverts are usually fairly emotionally contained, but I think that in certain roles that may make it all the more special when emotion finally does come through. Does that make sense?

Anyway, I think that it's a factor, but that other things are involved as well

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 8:57am

Meryl Streep once said that while some actors like to bring out their own selves in their performances, she likes to retreat into her own self and let the character take over. But having seen her in interviews, I don't know if I'd call Streep an introvert.

Updated On: 12/4/05 at 08:57 AM

[Taryn]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 1:08pm

There is a difference between being introverted and being shy. Being shy means you might be anxious and nervous around people (especially ones you don't know). Being introverted means that you get your energy from being alone, are tired by socializing with large groups of people, need recharge time after doing so, etc. Introverts can be entirely sociable, they just thrive on having alone time (and sometimes in one-on-one/small group settings). Certain types of introverts are entirely self-confident and comfortable in social situations. (I WOULD probably guess that more introverts tend to be shy than extroverts, though.)

That said (can you tell I'm an introvert?), I agree with touchme. I really don't think personality types have much to do with acting.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 1:37pm

According to those definitions, I am both shy and an introvert.

Anyway, we mention Idina and Sutton being shy and amazing, but when I met Sherie Rene Scott she was not at all shy and she is absolutely incredible. I'm not sure that has much to do with it.

[OddExoticCreature]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 4:38pm

I could go on FOREVER on this topic, as I studied psychology for years and specialized in personality types.

*takes deep breath*

First of all simple definitions so everyone is on the same page:
Introverts: people who get energy from "alone time"
Extroverts: people who get energy from being around others

Just going by this, a great performer can be either. An introverted performer will internalize their character, spend a lot of time in their head, they will probably be drained after long rehearsals and need to go home to re-energize. An extroverted performer will take external cues for their character, play off of others etc. (not to say they don't think about their character), and they probably enjoy and are energized by rehearsals. On stage is different, because regardless of introvert or extrovert a performer will be affected by the audience. If the audience is energized and supportive it will energize the performer. The difference is after the show an introvert will run home, and an extrovert will be heading to the bar/party/etc. Obviously these are generalizations, introverts will go out, and extroverts will stay home...

People have stated that introverts make amazing performers because they are so internal. But it's not just being an introvert that makes them amazing. A good example (I think) of an amazing introverted actor is Johnny Depp. He spends a lot of time in his head, developing each character, letting himself become that character (not Johnny Depp+character). I also think (now this is opinion there isn't anything to back this up) introverts are more likely to take on complex characters/roles whereas extroverts are better at specific roles.

Oh and you can't really judge whether someone is introverted or extroverted by how they interact with people. Sometimes you can, if the person is of the extreme (most people are somewhere in the middle of the scale leaning toward one or the other) but most people will be cordial and friendly towards fans because...that's polite lol.

Also, introversion is a psychological term that technically explains a brain pattern, whereas 'shy' is an adjective that describes a state of mind. If someone is perpetually shy...they lack self-confidence. Most people who are shy are only shy is certain situations and it's related to anxiety which stems from lack of self-confidence. (I get REALLY shy when I'm around people I look up to...which obviously says something.)

Other than that simple definition of introversion and extroversion a good way to understand the difference is to look at the scientific level. Basically if someone is introverted, their brain literally takes longer to send messages to other parts of the brain/body. It's literally different wiring. I don't have my psych books on hand, so I apologize I'm being so vague. But this is why it may take an introvert longer to answer a question. I always used to get SO FRUSTRATED in school because a teacher would ask a question, I would think about it and get a vague sense that I knew the answer, so I'd raise my hand. If I was called on I'd sit a few seconds formulating what I wanted to say and often the teacher would assume I didn'tk now the answer and ask someone else. That is THE WORST thing to do to an introvert. It's not that I was daydreaming, or dawdling about answering, or unsure of what I wanted to say...my brain was literally taking longer to send the information to the other part of my brain which formulates language. Roar!

I hope that made sense.