[anon]

I dunno if this is in the correct section... anyhu....

I've come across many threads (not only on this forum, but in other places) that talk about how misunderstood any particular personality type is. Mind you, there has been a talk about almost all of the personality types being misunderstood - but some of them are mentioned more than others (usually it is the introverts).

I understand why this is so. I feel misunderstood from time to time.



However, it only goes to show that everyone feels like this. Why do certain personalities mention this about themselves more than others? Has is really got a lot to do with one's cognitive?

I am beginning to think it has more to do with a lack of accountability of human action. It's a human factor, not exclusively based on personality.

I would like to hear from you guys and gals, if you ever feel misunderstood, why? And what sort of misunderstanding is it?

[jacobpeder]

I sure as heck feel misunderstood. Everything i do or say gets taken the wrong way by so many. I go at something with one goal in mind and everyone else ends up thinking my goal is the opposite of what it really is. I mean i am a infp 4w5 sexual so i suppose thats enough conflicting information to confuse people but still.

[Functianalyst]

Misunderstood is a relative term since it could infer that someone is misunderstanding what we are attempting to convey or self-disclose. Since introverts are generally not in the habit of too much self-disclosure then we are not being misunderstood. People are conveying their thoghts of us based on their observation and perception. Some of us secretly enjoy being misunderstood or appearing enigmatic.

[jacobpeder]

For me being an introvert just means i have to have time to myself and i am not comfortable in social situations, but i do talk quite a bit when i am in the mood. I convey how i am feeling and say self revealing stuff that i don't think anyone really wants to hear, but i feel it is my duty to express my thoughts and feelings. I don't know if they want to hear it but I enjoy being someone that can make people realize things about the world they haven't thought about.

[jacobpeder]

I mean i talk alot at times but most of the time i am quiet and to myself.

[EmotionallyTonedGeometry]

I mean i talk alot at times but most of the time i am quiet and to myself.

I can't remember who posted the thread, but someone listed the symptoms of schizophrenia, and I think most INTPs seem to reflect most of these. So what if we like to spend a disproportionate amount of time in our heads, avoiding emotions, engaged in the construction of ridiculous systems? Don't judge me!!! (please?)

[Grey]

I was a bit hesitant to take a look at this thread, as I was thinking that it would just be another contest to see which type was the most misunderstood (assuming, of course, that INFPs were the most misunderstood and all of the SJs had it easy and were evil people). I need to learn not to assume firsthand - and to check out threads like this, because I am impressed.

We all feel misunderstood at times in our lives. Some feel like more so than others, but this does not make them any more or less important or justified than the other people. One of the greatest pitfalls I've observed are the people who seem to feed off of telling others how they're misunderstood, and thriving in other stories of other people. Since this is an internet forum, such discussion can actually be productive to release opinions that would otherwise be bottled up, but it can go too far, and unfortunately, I've seen several instances of such. Those who thrive off of such just serve to hoist themselves into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I've been misunderstood throughout my life. Even now, my father and I have been fighting for days due to what he considers 'anti-social behavior'. I prefer my own company, and it can be frustrating trying to tell this to him. He may have his heart in the right place, but it's still not seeing where I'm coming from. Still, I'm not going to let this get me down - I'd prefer to push and make him understand, rather than to just settle and 'accept' the fact that he doesn't. People's opinions can change, and sometimes, they don't. Even moreso, however, they do.

Apologies for the long post.

[kept81213]

This is interesting...and HEY not all SJ's have it easy or are evil people...:(

I often feel very misunderstood, as I'm sure everyone does. My mom is an ENFP and I thought it would be interesting to put what she always says. She says that she often feels the most misunderstood and she thinks that that is because idealists tend to look at the world and themselves in such a way that they constantly wish to better it? Does that sound correct? So therefore, being also only 7% of the population, feel that they're by themselves in their more future like thinking. I don't know if I described that very well...she just always says she always felt sort of by herself in a world of mostly artisans and guardians. Therefore very misunderstood. But she says when she gets with a group of other idealists she never feels alone or misunderstood :) So maybe that's why.

What I will say about guardians have it "easy" is that it's not true. We spend so much energy caring for other people that we often don't even realize that we're being too controlling or not looking like we are caring at all. I would doubt we feel as misunderstood as other types because that depends on whether we see it in a black or white way. Either you feel misunderstood and that's it, or you feel understood and that's it. That and most people do stick around for the caring. BUT we are certainly not evil.

But ya I would agree that introverts probably are the most misunderstood, I know I have certainly misunderstood many because they don't express their thoughts and feelings as often. And I feel very badly for not understanding that before.

[zynthaxx]

Being misunderstood is for sissies.

I think the most important thing to remember about oneself is that you aren't actually the center of the world, and seen from a wider perspective, you're not very important to anyone but yourself and those closest to you.
Once you've realized that, you can relax about whether people understand you or not, and just focus on correcting their view when it's truly unfair (that is: when it's unfair in an area that actually is important).

[Mutatio NOmenis]

Oh yeah, I'm misunderstood big time. People think that I'm wierd, a retard, gay, and boring. ANd very good post about INTP's have schizophrenic symptoms. Look out, here comes a psychotic!