[Callie]

So how many out of you manage to look like extraverts, have the taste of extraverts, sound like extraverts but are NOT extraverts?

One INTJ friend is very much like that : party girl often, social, many friends, jokes a lot, can be very silly... but she's truly INTJ when you know her! (INTJ proof, professionnally tested)

What are your surviving techniques?

[dagnytaggart]

Well, the introverts I know go into E-mode in little spurts.For example, I know an INTP friend that I regularly hike with, and he'll actually call ME up to remind me, but then after the hike (and our afterward outing to eat fish tacos), he just wants to crawl back home and watch movies, read or play his recorder.

[maelstrom]

If I know that there is a social function I have to attend, I try to make sure that I get plenty of alone time before it and a great deal of rest too. Parties and the like actually physically exhaust me. Afterwards I need to go straight home and be alone for a long time. Then, I make sure not to attend another social function for a little while.

It helps if you have a posse of friends that get your jokes and that you can play off of. People find me and my INTP brother and ENFP sister to be hilarious when we get together. It is a great deal easier if it is an NT-gathering.

If it's a gathering of S-types and I know it will be boring then I just sit on the side and try to remember to be polite and usually either try to act interested (soooo very tiring and something I really really despise) or just say "Fuck. It." and be my usual self. People might say "That girl is so weird!" But at least it would be the truth and reflective of my true personality. Situations where I might pretend include my sister-in-law's baby shower. It was a baby shower, so I didn't want to act like a cynical bitch who didn't want to be there. Plus I would have to see those people again some other time. Most other times I would just be awkward and try to escape.

Sometimes, escaping is how I cope. Like, I enter the place and scope out the exits. LOL. I have no problem hopping a fence just to leave a party and avoid the host.

Sometimes I make a game out of things. For example, if I am talking to a person who likes to talk about dumb shit and I just don't care, I try to see how long they will continue to talk about it. I won't act super interested, but I would ask a little question to see if they would keep talking.

If you are at an all-ages gathering (ie. neighborhood BBQ), I find that the most interesting people are either children or really, really old people. Old people have good stories, and you can sometimes learn from them. Children will tell you really crazy shit about their parents that they probably don't want you to know. HAHAHA.

The best way to cope in social situations, though, is to avoid them.

[fragrance]

What are your surviving techniques?

I don't hide and I don't feel like I have to survive anything. I just go for it. When I decided to overcome my introversion and shyness, I knew that a "technique" won't do it for me: I would have to reform myself on a deeper level. That's when I started challenging myself with things like public speaking, powerpoint hardsell, crashing parties, hitchhiking, flirting with personnel and talking to other strangers. At times it was really embarrassing and humiliating, but it was a good lesson.

[Labyrinth]

In all honesty I am just "me". I figured a long time ago that people that are truly worth my time and effort are the ones that will want to know the true me and accept me for who I am not for who they think I should be or pretend to be, they will approach me. True, it can be hard at times but better alone (and in good company-me ) than in bad company...

[bionic]

I don't "hide", I just choose to hang out with friends WHEN I'm ready to. When I want to, I'm really great with people and I make them feel important. A lot of this is do to my developed Fi and semi-developed Se. I have an uncanny knack with people when I really want to about around others.

[Callie]

Well, the introverts I know go into E-mode in little spurts.For example, I know an INTP friend that I regularly hike with, and he'll actually call ME up to remind me, but then after the hike (and our afterward outing to eat fish tacos), he just wants to crawl back home and watch movies, read or play his recorder.

BuT I do the same !!! Maybe Im an introvert?

[USSVagrant]

I have a very strong ENTP mask. Since many of my close friends have been ENTPs, I'm very good at emulating their behavior. The only weakness of the mask is it becomes flimsy when I'm low on mental energy.

[jbking]

My main survival technique is to know what is my focus on having certain interactions. This can mean that in support groups or game playing groups I can be quite vocal and active, it does take time for me to get comfortable enough to voice my opinions as needed. Thus, just hanging out somewhere is what I tend to avoid as while I can manage small talk, it isn't something I am a fan of doing. Let me have some structure to an event, or some kind of plan that I can follow as opposed to trying to build my own thing which can be quite messy and ugly.

Just don't forget that some of us can fake it well, too. "The Introvert Advantage" has some other ideas that I'm still digesting though I would suggest some of its tips for surviving parties.

[ChanceyRose]

I have to have an extroverted wingman with me when I'm in a group of strangers or acquaintances. He or she acts as my security blanket and can keep conversation moving while I'm pondering. When I have control of a situation, e.g. when I'm conducting a seminar or running a meeting, I can extrovert. I can also be silly and rambunctious in public if I'm with close friends.

Always, though, I have to return to a quiet place and spend time in my own mind before I can face the world again.