I heard references to this recently but it didn’t hit me head on until I received a tweet this a.m.
Blogger Breanne Potter, formerly of the MBTI Blog and now of assessmentbuzz.com told me about the proposed APA (that’s Psychiatric) definition of introversion for the new DSM. It really is, as she says, taking the concept of introversion backwards.
According to their proposed definition introversion means “withdrawal from other people, ranging from intimate relationships to the world at large; restricted affective experience and expression; limited hedonic capacity.” That is just the beginning.
Now to be fair, most psychiatric definitions seem a little strong but this really does paint introversion as pathological.
Read Breanne’s excellent take on how the APA is moving backwards by seeing Introversion as a personality disorder. And, if you feel strongly about it, let the APA know. I expressed my opinion on their website and they acknowledged my input. They are taking comments on this new version of the DSM. You just have to register to comment. Let the psychiatrists know what you think! Introversion is not a problem to be solved.
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