Introversion, Extroversion & Grief

There has been relatively little research on the relationship between basic personality types and the ways people cope with loss. There have been studies which show that people vary in their adjustments to grief according to whether they are dependent on others for their self-esteem and whether or not they are relatively emotionally unstable at the time of the loss (Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Larson, J., 1999, p. 76) It is the purpose of this paper to examine the various traits of extroverted and introverted people and apply those findings to the various possible approaches to grief..

In general, the terms introvert and extrovert came from C.G. Jung's theories of psychological types, first presented in 1921. The Myers-Briggs assessment of types is based on Jung's categories. This test was first available in 1956, although its development began fifteen years earlier (Quenk, N.L.,2000, p. 1). This type indicator has been widely used in all types of work with people·career guidance, marital counseling, and management in the work place.

An introvert usually prefers to think something through first and then act. He or she likes to communicate in writing, and prefers advance warning of an up-coming discussion. An introvert prefers to discuss a few issues in depth. In contrast, an extrovert prefers to try something and then see how well it worked. He or she likes to communicate face to face, and wants to respond to issues as th

. . .
al adjustments to life's changes. Introverts are not as likely to seek therapy as extraverts and favor short-term techniques and terminate as soon as a problem is solved. Often the introverted person may seem very calm and controlled but inside is experiencing a great deal of turmoil (Quenk, p. 118). The introvert can be afraid of losing control completely and under stress can be very pessimistic about their future. Introverts like a certain amount of order and predictability, and those who assist them during the grief process should not jump to the conclusion that they are obsessive-compulsive. During therapy, the introverted person needs quite a lot of reassurance that their perspective is understood. Some of the introverted types represent a very small proportion of the population (1-2 percent) and they are commonly misunderstood (Myers & Myers, p. 2). It would be particularly painful for the bereaved to experience another painful hurt on top of the loss of the loved one. Some introverts can appear resistant to change and out of touch with their own emotions and the emotions of others (Quenk, p. 119). While grieving, some introverts seek therapy for anxiety, depression and stress-related symptoms. They may feel unable t
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Nolen-Hoeksema Larson, Myers Myers, Nolen=Hoeksema Larson, Nolan-Hoeksema Larson, Quenk NL2000, Keirsey Bates, Maybe I'm, Extroversion Grief, CG Jung's, Myers Briggs, nolen-hoeksema larson, grief process, people don't, restoration orientation, woman lost, myers myers, outside world, type indicator, seek therapy, introverts seek therapy, larson 62, myers myers 2, myers-briggs type indicator, keirsey bates 1984, using myers briggs,
Approximate Word count = 3485
Approximate Pages = 14 (250 words per page)