Extroverts & Introverts - Materialism

[GOD]

It’s interesting to watch some peoples desire to possess items of status.

Sure, some people have assets simply as a residual of their greater incomes or ancestral wealth. However, there is another class that strives incredibly hard to achieve a perceived status based on the possessions they have and the signals they believe gives out to the people around them (i.e. I am important, I am successful, and often....I am better than you).

As for any differences between materialism and type, it would be fair to say that extroverts are more likely to be caught in this trap; in essence if they are group orientated then they will try to conform to that/those groups. In effect they are more "outward facing" to the world and thus will more likely reflect that world.

Introverts as such are less likely to be materialistic, simply because they do not wish the world to focus on them ("Inward facing") and they are not subject to the same level of group consensus and pressure.

In essence introverts are more likely to impress themselves, whereas extroverts will seek to impress others.

[Louie]

I have some (non scientific/professional supervised) information on this...personality type and materialism.

I've just got to find it.

It is a relatively large group of capitalistic/business/wealth accumulating people that "discovered" personality types and ran it through a wealth help forum.

It fascinated the crap out of me, I am fond of studying/observing people and what makes them tick, and how loudly they tick, in my own little amateurish way.

If I can link it up I would love for you to have a geek, from memory, (and I did take notes but lost them in a pile of 50 million note-takings), it was actually done twice in a period of 3 or 4 years, so included new members later. Also I correlated information they provided (various times) about age, occupation, income etc as well as personality type....and any type changes.

Now, the P.Type was mostly done over internet, (M/Briggs test) although some had done it via employment testing/vocational or through university courses.

It is really interesting and way more complicated then I realised, I think you would be good at interpretating it, keeping in mind it is what it is.

Interestingly enough my type was....few, in the latter sample I was the only one, from memory, and in an earlier sample, was one INFP, of two.

Understand I am a very happy, content person, loving life, family, friends very much and wouldn't change any of "my stuff", however there is a part to it that is sometimes, rather lonely? Whether I like or not I am quite an optimistic person too, it can be very limiting chasing sunshine and rainbows. I am a duck out of water in the investing world, yet I do it well because I can relate people effectively, have great gut feeling on a span of related matters and acquire wealth, but not necessarily be the smartest person in the room, kind of thing.

I will do my best to find the info.

[Louie]

Do we consider materialism equal to investing?

What if introverts like to hang around internet sites, internet full stop, precisely because they are ints?

Lots more questions run through my mind about..it all really, but interesting for me, none the less.

This is what I have from 2004 to 2008.

35 people. 17 female, 18 male.

Majority aged late 30's to 40 yo. Few 20 somethings, a few 50 somethings.

13 Types. 7 introverts, 6 ex's..however check this out:

ENTP: total 3 (2f 1m)

ENFP: 1 (m)

ESFP: 1 (f)

ENFJ: 5 (4f 1m)

ENTJ: 4 (m)

ESTJ: 1 (m)

INFP: 1 (f)

INFJ: 2 (m)

ISFJ: 4 (f)

INTP: 1 (f)

INTJ: 7 (5m 2f)

ISTJ: 4 (3m 1f)

INTP: 1 (f)

All were/are actively involved in investing (property or the share market), small businesses or even all of the above in some cases.

[GOD]

If I can link it up I would love for you to have a geek, from memory, (and I did take notes but lost them in a pile of 50 million note-takings), it was actually done twice in a period of 3 or 4 years, so included new members later. Also I correlated information they provided (various times) about age, occupation, income etc as well as personality type....and any type changes.

Now, the P.Type was mostly done over internet, (M/Briggs test) although some had done it via employment testing/vocational or through university courses.

It is really interesting and way more complicated then I realised, I think you would be good at interpretating it, keeping in mind it is what it is.

Interestingly enough my type was....few, in the latter sample I was the only one, from memory, and in an earlier sample, was one INFP, of two.

I will do my best to find the info.

I think your sample size might be a bit small... but let’s apply some logic.

The actual act of hanging around "financial numbers" isn't really conclusive proof that that those people are overly materialistic.

Nobody even comes close to my interest in money as a child, so if anyone is materialistic then it is I.

But it is not the accumulation as tool that matters, its how it’s used and the purpose for its accumulation in the first place.

You'd sort of have to have a filtering questionnaire that finds out 1) if they pursue assets or experiences, then 2) If assets why are they pursuing those. But key indicators are assets which are more consumer orientated, that’s proving something often to peers. 3) Do more assets make you happy and the accumulation of "more" will make you happier yet? 4) Does social status mean something to you etc?

I think plenty of intelligent people get caught up in the social pressure element which tends to revolve around superficial aspects to life (looks, possessions etc) but generally they get off the merry-go-round at some point and do what makes them personally happy.

So, if you look at manifestations rather than interest you might get a better picture. Also, forums can tend to be social so people that hang around might be more people persons. I think if you visited different sites, especially get rich quick ones... property investment etc. Then you might get a better perspective. Also, the younger people are the more rapped up in materialism... its part of the whole "superficiality" trying to achieve identity groups.

Lastly, you can actually be very interested in money/finance and not be seeking possessions for their sake; it just happens that many people are interested in money because it can make them wealthy.

Understand I am a very happy, content person, loving life, family, friends very much and wouldn't change any of "my stuff", however there is a part to it that is sometimes, rather lonely? Whether I like or not I am quite an optimistic person too, it can be very limiting chasing sunshine and rainbows. I am a duck out of water in the investing world, yet I do it well because I can relate people effectively, have great gut feeling on a span of related matters and acquire wealth, but not necessarily be the smartest person in the room, kind of thing.

You probably need to take stock of what really makes you tick.

Often its about getting that balance right.

You're interested in psychology, your interested in financial things. So, you need if possible find something that fits between the 2. Maybe you can take a course that could make the interest a occupational one. If not, maybe you could develop websites etc.

One thing that too many people do, is think their day job has to give them everything in life. Hobbies and interests that are after work will give the right balance. I believe people should do whatever earns them the most and compensate by doing whatever they enjoy the most out of work....

[GOD]

Oh yes, I've often seen people pursuing "money" as a substitute for a deficit in their lives.

If people seek "materialism" to negate unhappiness then they will never be happy. They may delude themselves for a period, but ultimately they will see the frivolity of it all.

I guess in 10 years I'll be writing books... this site is a step along that path. It will be a combination of Economics, Finance and Psychology both at a Macro and Microeconomic level... (Although, I guess this website is already a type of book, as they all exist to convey information!).