Sunday, August 08, 2010

The extrovert Scandinavian

As discussed in various connections, I'm very introvert. This is not common in some countries, like USA or Italy, but it's quite common in others, like Japan or the Scandinavian countries.
Nicola told me this one:

How do you spot an extrovert Scandinavian?

He's the one looking at your shoes when he's talking to you instead of his own.

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5 comments:

Mark Thiessen said...

That's funny! Until now I hadn't thought of cultural or national tendencies toward introversion or extroversion. But it makes sense. Although many of my friends are introverts, I think there are more extroverts here in the US. As a fellow introvert, you might enjoy reading The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney. I found it enlightening and encouraging.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Yes, excellent book.
I posted a friend's review here.

Anonymous said...

He's the one looking at your shoes when he's talking to you instead of his own.

That seems more like just shyness, which is different.

Pascal [P-04referent] said...

The Lebanese, Italians and -I think- most Mediterraneans are very extraverted, typically. Same with latin Americans. It's a cultural thing.

Anon,
I don't think there's such a great difference between shyness and introversion. Seems to me like they're rather close.

Of course, some highly noticeable extroverts are simply trying to counter their shyness with such an attitude...
Hey, this might actually be a very important thoughgt on extroversion! How much of it is actually just a way to conceal one's own lack of confidence by displaying a "dynamic" facade?

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Yes, an interesting thought.