Question Related To Alcohol And Personality..

[Mondo]

This is entirely based on a lifelong set of my own observations, so feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong but..

Why is it that incredibly introverted or socially anxious people are the most likely to avoid drinking alcohol?

I feel that engaging in such an activity is a good way for me to feel more comfortable in a situation that could potentially be awkward. I am surprised that many of the people who have the greatest problems with social situations are the ones that are usually so adamantly opposed to drinking it.

What are your thoughts?

[ajblaise]

Why is it that incredibly introverted or socially anxious people are the most likely to avoid drinking alcohol?

Because they hate the thought of loosing control? There's nothing more insane than a drunk introvert..

[ptgatsby]

Because they hate the thought of loosing control? There's nothing more insane than a drunk introvert..

Yup! I'm a prime example of that.

[Jeffster]

I don't know of any particular relation between the two in my own observation. I've known plenty of drunkard introverts, and plenty of extroverts who don't drink.

My two main reasons for not drinking are that I don't actually LIKE alcohol, and as I grew up, I watched alcohol fuel the destruction of several relationships, both inside my family and out as well as several people's lives ended because of it. There's so many ways to have fun and enjoy life that don't involve alcohol. Yes,. I know there are responsible drinkers, but there's also people trained to play with fire, that doesn't mean in general it's not still a bad idea.

[GZA]

Introverts getting drunk is opening pandora's box. What comes out astounds all. All my ideas and thoughts and primal urges are thrown inside out and are just spilled out. It really is opening pandora's box. Shit, why is there an entire social group devoted to my drunk posts then? :laugh:

[Mondo]

Because they hate the thought of loosing control? There's nothing more insane than a drunk introvert..

Yea, that's how my INTJ friend described it.
He only got drunk once in his life at his college.
He said he was an angry drunk..not a happy one.

[Colors]

Someone that socially anxious probably fears saying/doing something "weird"/judg-able the most. So from that standpoint, sure, in the short-term you'll get the brief benefits of "loosening up"- at the potential long-term cost of being mortified at your actions while "loosened up". **

Personally, I'm not particularly fond of the taste of alcohol (though I like to throw a little cognac into pork dishes sometimes)- nor have I found the effects to be particularly impressive.

** Then again, the one person I know in real life who claims to suffer from social phobia drinks like a fish, full-on college style. She's intensely melodramatic though, an extravert and does not suffer from particularly bad social skills (she's unhealthily obsessed with not making a fool of herself - and about what people are thinking about her)- so take that as you will.

[Aimahn]

Hahah, thats when all my nerdiness comes out. I actually prefer it that way because I don't really feel like I lose "control" since I'm like hyper control freak about anything personal when sober. Just my crazy thoughts and ideas spill out, and my tendency to elaborate. I don't have the random personal spilling of my life details like my extroverted friends though. I think I pretty much turn into an ENTP especially when I'm not around my close friends.

[Orangey]

I only ever drink as much as I can control. I don't generally like the taste of alcohol for one, and I am most definitely afraid of saying or doing something that would be mortifying to me in my sober state.

[Bella]

This is entirely based on a lifelong set of my own observations, so feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong but..

Why is it that incredibly introverted or socially anxious people are the most likely to avoid drinking alcohol?

I feel that engaging in such an activity is a good way for me to feel more comfortable in a situation that could potentially be awkward. I am surprised that many of the people who have the greatest problems with social situations are the ones that are usually so adamantly opposed to drinking it.

What are your thoughts?

I was the same (in my bad days).

I'm suprised at that too.

And ajblaise is right, a drunk Introvert (with issues) is a crazy thing!

[whatever]

My old drinking buddies were an INTP and an INFP... though not particularly socially awkward ones. :)

As an extrovert, I must say that I rarely pass up a drink.

[ajblaise]

Something that has to be factored into this equation is how well a person is able to handle substances and different states of consciousness. I have never been afraid or wary of what I'll do or say if I get too drunk, and I'm introverted. But I've seen other introverts turn into blabbering fools after a few drinks.

[Aimahn]

good point. I just get less serious, more talkative, and just generally joke around. I most certainly still have an amazing amount of control of my "inner" self, I almost never disclose anything really personal. I usually have a habit of passing out before anything gets too crazy.

[EffEmDoubleyou]

This is entirely based on a lifelong set of my own observations, so feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong but..

Why is it that incredibly introverted or socially anxious people are the most likely to avoid drinking alcohol?

I take issue with the validity of your primary assumption. Alcoholism is a classic byproduct of loneliness and introversion.

[whatever]

I take issue with the validity of your primary assumption. Alcoholism is a classic byproduct of loneliness and introversion.

*feels safe now from developing the scourge of alcoholism*

:ninja:

[prplchknz]

I don't know I like to drink and I'm not one of those cry about my problems drunks. And who cares if I do something stupid, I'm drunk, and I'd probably do something stupid sober so really I'd rather be drunk so I can be like hey I was drunk when I licked your cat dude, sorry. Though she was tasty.


I've never had the urge to lick someones cat drunk or sober btw.

[Aimahn]

"on my gender:I do not have a penis, I never had a penis, I probably will never have a penis. plus I have bewbs, small ones, but they are still considered bewbs."

"I've never had the urge to lick someones pussy cat drunk or sober btw."


Right... Im gonna go ahead and give you the benefit of the doubt and just say your a little confused.

[prplchknz]

I was talking about an actual cat and I do not have a penis. I'm not confused you're confused.

[Aimahn]

mhmm. lets go with that. *takes bottle away slowly*

[prplchknz]

I'm not drunk. I was just saying I've never licked a ...no that's a lie...I've never licked a cat drunk or sober. maybe once sober, tasted furry by the way. I do not lick cats on a regular basis.

[Aimahn]

was it well groomed. *ducks*

[prplchknz]

*gooses* yes it was.

[wolfy]

This is entirely based on a lifelong set of my own observations, so feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong but..

Why is it that incredibly introverted or socially anxious people are the most likely to avoid drinking alcohol?

I feel that engaging in such an activity is a good way for me to feel more comfortable in a situation that could potentially be awkward. I am surprised that many of the people who have the greatest problems with social situations are the ones that are usually so adamantly opposed to drinking it.

What are your thoughts?

In my life some of the biggest drinkers were most probably introverts. I really don't know if there is any correlation here.

I'm introverted and no matter how much I drink I always think before I speak. Maybe even more so. I drink because it's fun to drink with friends. Guys who get to all extroverted and carried away when drinking are just plain annoying.
I can forgive drunk girls. :wubbie:

I'm ISFP and my drinking buddy was ISTP I guess. It did get crazy sometimes. But just between friends.

Here's to the good old days.:cheers:

[ygolo]

What is the point of socializing by getting buzzed or drunk? "Hey guys, want to come over and get smashed?" WTF?

I see nothing wrong with a few drinks while socializing--just like meeting for dinner, lunch, or a ball-game.

But what does getting slightly or a lot innebriated have to do with loosening up? I think simply being in the same place for a while is what does the loosening up. The occasion allows you to do so.

I don't think intoxication necessarily relaxes people. Inhibitions reduced doesn't always mean more relaxed.

[colmena]

It's a self-righteous thing. The need for intoxicants to be able to socialise suggests unideal anxieties whilst being clear headed. Being offered a drink is like a reminder that you're getting a patch. And no doubt if the drink is taken -- along with a few more -- you'll see those anxieties manifest, and in a less than ideal environment.

But I also agree with Jeffster, in that I don't like alcohol, and that it just shouldn't be worth it. Predicates societal displeasure; unadvised escapism etc.

^But then all the above is put in its place a few times a year when I have a couple of ciders and become, "lovely". 'though does make me wonder if I'd be more relaxed whilst sober if I knew no one is going to be hit by a drunk driver tonight.

/Fi rant

[mlittrell]

most alcoholics that i know (personally) are introverted (in many case SJ). just a personal observation.

[Sinister Scribe]

Because they hate the thought of loosing control? There's nothing more insane than a drunk introvert..

I've sworn off drinking alcohol for a number of reasons.

1. Like you said, there really aren't more insane things than drunk introverts... and I don't fancy myself being caught in long-term ENFP mode (which is what I tend to do when I'm exhausted or have caffeine). Don't get me wrong; I love my ENFP friends, but I don't want to be like you.

2. Only reason why I would consider drinking at all would be for social reasons. Since I'm obviously not social, why should I bother with this? I tend to care less what other people think of me and I'm not going to intoxicate myself with some substance in order to gain acceptance from people about whom I could care less.

3. I don't fancy the idea of becoming dependent on anything.

[Jack Flak]

Something to consider is that with regular chemical intoxicant use, your ability to experience elation without them is decreased. This is the angle I'm going for now, only using light stimulants such as caffeine.

[heart]

I avoid getting drunk because of what I've seen alcoholism and problem drinking do to the lives and health of people I loved.

I hate alcoholism. I try to avoid being around people when they are drunk. I admit this.

Online drukenness I'm okay with. ;) For others, not myself.

[cascademn]

This is entirely based on a lifelong set of my own observations, so feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong but..

Why is it that incredibly introverted or socially anxious people are the most likely to avoid drinking alcohol?

Well, in college I used alcohol to ease social anxiety and to try to blend in better with everyone. It did work.

But I also became concerned that I would eventually reach the point where I'd abuse it (in fact I was...I was a binge drinker of sorts), and when I realized what I was doing, I ceased drinking, at all, for about 4 months. After that, I made sure I only drank when I WAS comfortable with the people I was with and was in a good mood -- I avoided, and for the most part still avoid, using alcohol as a 'tool' to deal with social anxiety that I'd rather try to deal with without having to use it. And I never overdrink anymore. I'm also very careful now in assessing my motivation for drinking. (And really, I don't do it a whole lot anymore anyway.)

[Beat]

Because they hate the thought of loosing control? There's nothing more insane than a drunk introvert..
I'm pretty tame as a drunk but that is being just drunk, not blacking out. I think that might be a different story. :devil:

I don't drink to that point though. The only time I did do that I woke up vomiting over the side of my bed. Fuck that.

[FDG]

If Eysenck's hypothesis on the source of the E/I divide is correct (namely, that introverts have a more sensitive nervous system than extraverts, in general terms), then perhaps introverts are less likely to drink alchool because they feel its effect more strongly.