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Do Aces tend to also be introverts?


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I'm wondering if anyone has polled this group..... I'm quite introverted and wonder if there is any relationship or correlation between introversion and asexuality.

Thanks and regards,

Jan

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There may be :o

I'm also very introverted, shy, and awkward. I never really thought about how it was connected to my sexuality, though. From what I've seen, most of the people on AVEN seem to be introverted. If there was a connection, that'd sure be interesting!

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Autumn Season

I'm pretty sure that AVEN attracts introverted people. ^^ But we do not know which personality people outside of AVEN have.

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There have been but they aren't conclusive at all because their intake is too low (400 or less).

Yah, and what Autumn Season said. It's subjective in that way too. I would assume less extroverts are into reading and thus are less likely to join a forum or stay on it. This may sound too assumptive but it's actually not if you know what causes the two. Introverts minds get stimulated easily and extroverts don't (which is why one gets overwhelmed and the other typically doesn't under the same circumstances). Thus an introvert would more likely find a forum entertaining than an extrovert.

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Mycroft is Yourcroft

I'm veeery extroverted (I go slightly nuts if I don't have contact with people for long periods of time) :P

As Autumn Sunrise suggested, the high number of introverts on AVEN is much more likely to do with the profile of person who frequents online forums, rather than something linked to asexuality specifically. It has been polled though, you can easily find some of the results in the Census forum :)

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Yes, sometimes introvert means shy. Typically extroverts are different from introverts in this way: extroverts are refreshed and recharged by being with other people. Introverts are refreshed and recharged by being alone.

From an energetic standpoint, extroverts have a lot of external energy that they share with others. They go nuts if they aren't around people. Introverts guard their energy within. They go nuts if they don't get their alone time.

So to me it would make sense that most Aces would be introverts. But of course there are always exceptions to the rule. :D

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This study found a positive correlation between introversion and scores on an asexuality identification scale (a small correlation of .2). The correlation was present in the general population and among asexuals recruited from AVEN.

There were similar positive correlations from the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems for "cold", "socially avoidant" and "non-assertive". PM if you'd like a pdf of the paper, although the authors don't go into personality very much at all.

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I'm pretty sure that AVEN attracts introverted people. ^^ But we do not know which personality people outside of AVEN have.

This.

Looking at polls we've had here over the years, it's safe beyond reasonable doubt to say that the vast majority of AVENites are introverts.

However, that needs to be seen with two caveats - a) not every asexual is an AVEN user, and b) internet message boards, in general, attract introverts more than extraverts.

I wouldn't be surprised if, among asexuals as a whole, introverts are somewhat more common than extraverts... but I'd be very wary of just looking at the AVEN poll numbers and take them as proof that this majority were in the 90%+ range.

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I actually just took a sociability test from a psychology website and just scored 23 out of 100...so probably...

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I'm not an introvert, I know that much. I need to be around people. I need to talk and be heard, and that's partially how I feel satisfied with everything. So, definitely extroverted. I mean, I do go through bouts where I need "me" time away from everyone, but I go nuts far quicker that way--and I usually still have someone or several someones trying to do that wacky hermit lifestyle with me until I'm back in the center of things.

Actually, that does make online interactions awkward for me, though. I prefer voice and video chats, because it feels more real, and like I'm actually participating. I'm more likely to zone out, lose interest, or get lost in a text conversation, and I tend to put it down, walk away, and go talk to someone. Or my cat. I talk to my cat a lot. And Siri. Sometimes Siri, too.

I think it might not be an introvert thing, but aces that I've met do seem to be more conservative in forming bonds and reaching out to people, myself included. I'd say that's more of a trust factor, though, than an introverted thing, but that's totally IMHO.

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Mycroft is Yourcroft

So to me it would make sense that most Aces would be introverts. But of course there are always exceptions to the rule. :D

Mm I still don't really see why that would make sense, what does sexual orientation have to do with how you feel energised? :huh: I could potentially understand people who spend lots of time on the internet generally learning about asexuality before people who don't, simply because online is still where most of that discussion happens. This could theoretically mean that, for the time being, more ace introverts (who spend more time online) learn about the asexual label and then identify with it than ace extroverts. [/postulating]

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I'm definitely an introvert who needs to be alone from time to time, but something isn't quite right because there are also moments when I go nuts if I'm not around people.

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I am neither really introvert nor really extroverted as I am shy but I have a lot of friends and I like being with them but I also need my time alone... I don't think that there really is a connection with sexuality but perhaps asexuals can feel different from others, especially if they don't know about asexuality so they might feel uncomfortable around people and tend to be more introverts... maybe ? I don't know it's just an idea I got ^^

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I think that it's not simply introversion, but a complex cycle of anxiety, difficulty socialising, depressive conditions, a feeling of being different. These all feed off each other.

Also to be considered is the people on AVEN. Predominantly active posters are of above average intelligence, and education possibly because being an Internet forum there is an accidental selectivity because the less well educated may not have access to the Internet or know how to find sites or particular subjects online

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I'm rather introverted, but I have Asperger's. It's more an issue with not knowing how to talk to people than not wanting to talk to people.

Based on people I've met in person, I think that there's a connection between Asperger's and asexuality, but that doesn't apply to all asexuals. I don't even know if there's much research regarding this.

I do think that, because many people believe there is something wrong with them, people often develop depression and/or anxiety. People may just avoid others to avoid the expectations that society has. I think that this applies to a lot of LGBT+ identities, though.

And, as people keep mentioning, it's important to consider the types of people that usually go on forums.

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Irezumi Hikari

I tend to be more introverted, but as several people have said already, it might just be because of the forum. Having the screen to hide behind is probably more attractive to introverts than extroverts.

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I believe that introversion is just as common among asexuals as among allosexuals. I think it's important not to confuse sexual behaviour (introverts may indeed have less 'opportunities' to have sex than extroverts) with sexual orientation.

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I'd say I'm naturally extroverted 90% of the time. I sometimes get quiet in certain situations like sometimes if I'm around a bunch of people I never met before. Then again those situations are more of the exceptions than the rule.

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I don't know if there is a connection but I'm personally 100% introvert all the time.

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I'm definitely an introvert who needs to be alone from time to time, but something isn't quite right because there are also moments when I go nuts if I'm not around people.

I think it's a misconception that introverts completely lack a need for socializing. The human species is a highly social one. Introverts are just less motivated to engage socially than extraverts: it's a relative thing.

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people on internet forums probably tend to be introverts....

Yep. If you want to see something funny just google "forum myers-briggs poll"

All the polls you'll find will be 80-90% introverted types lol. For example: http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?420419-Poll-What-is-Your-Myers-Briggs-Personality-Type

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I'm ambivert. Both on Aven and reallife. Although I was quite Introvert till 2 years ago. I joined Aven as a Introvert, but my life changed and I became ambivert.

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I can't speak for all asexuals but I know for me there is no connection between asexuality and being introverted. I'm pretty extroverted, and I'm also certain that I'm asexual.

For some people these aspects of their personality may link, but that's definitely not the case for everyone.

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I'm not sure if it's connected to my sexuality, but I'm definitely an introvert. People exhaust me, though I do like spending time with (small) groups of friends. I need my alone time like I need oxygen :) I think that's the appeal of forums, you don't have to interact if you don't want to.

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Not necessarily. I'm an introverted extrovert (or extroverted introvert?) ENFP. I don't consider myself a life of a party but I like to hang out with people and interact with them. I also enjoy some me (alone) time to think about things.

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Waist of Thyme

There have been a lot of polls on AVEN about this, and in all of them there are a lot more introverts than extroverts. In many of the polls I've seen, the number of extroverts are in the single digits or just barely above it.

I think the correlation isn't with asexuality or AVENites, but with internet forums. Those polls would have similar results on a lot of other communities.

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I'd say that asexuals are 'more' introverted than sexuals in how we act due to not having the 'I want you' way of being. Which is why many probably think I am gay.

It might make how we act seem 'strange' to sexuals.

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I myself am actually an ambivert, however, I have taken part in polls on AVEN where the results suggested that most of us here are introverts.

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No. I think many people who spend most of their time on-line are probably introverts. Since AVEN is a interweb forum, then...

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