usual suspect

I would think that overly extroverted people might also equally be at risk of derision, either being thought of as show offs or exhibitionists.

It would make sense that serial killers, for example, might keep to themselves, to avoid detection but that does not imply all shy people are serial killers. The townsfolk of Amstetten in Austria (where the 73 year old Austrian man imprisoned his daughter for 24 years) spoke of him as a friendly and outgoing person.

But, thankfully I don't think people hold such generalised or broad judgements about personality in that way and accept shy people as much as extroverts.

I can imagine some teachers trying to bring very shy children out of their shells in an effort to help them socialise with others but it is probably well intentioned. Teachers probably spend more time getting the extroverts to be quieter.

pelican,

' would think that overly extroverted people might also equally be at risk of derision, either being thought of as show offs or exhibitionists. '

I agree. That's why I also mentioned Ritalin. I loved that South Park episode where every child that didn't quietly sit through a reading of war and peace was prescribed Ritalin...

On a side note: I think Big Brother had tremendous potential as a societal experiment. It would be infinately more entertaining if they selected different personality types, rather than a bunch of look at me celebrity wannabes. But perhaps only look at me celebrity wannabes actually want to appear in Big Brother. That house is in dire need of a quiet, dry witted, understated person.

US "Normalising personality through drugs and societal pressure"

My first thought is Voluntarily or as prescribed by the state?

If someone wants to rectify a personality trait they find agonising to dealwith, then, just like plastic surgery, they should be free to seek such options.

If the State decides certain personality types should be "treated" to improve their socail value and conformity, I say NEVER.

I read the book "A Clockwork Orange" many years ago. That helped me decide, government should never have the authority to change the person, just like Stalin never had the authority to imprison people in psychiatric wards.

I worked in a prison recently, they conducted a series of psychological clinical programs there to help prisoners recognise the consequences of their action. That is fine, the prisoners were encouraged to participate but could not be forced. Nor could a prisoners personality be influenced, only his accountability and accountability is not a personality trait but a moral expectation.

But measures like aversion therapy, particularly using pain as a disincentive or as association with deviant behaviour is to manipulate the individual too much and is too powerful an option to trust to any government or organ of state. It starts with prisoners and then moves on to political opponents...

I wasnt on about religion Usual Suspect.
Christians never are.
Theyre on about Jesus and faith in Him only not any system. Millions miss this relationship. Him and you...you and Him.
You and Jesus in relationship via The Holy Spirit in you... is a world of difference from religious systems and its many priests.
If you find a good christian home/church youve found a treasure.
Its where you will get fed Gods Word and healed...if its got a Holy Spirit healing service.
Its a world apart from psychology and psychiatry or sorting out yourself.
People seperated by distance or shyness who lock themselves away are open to unusual thought. Man is a communal being.
He/she needs fellowship.
You did talk about serial killers etc?
Christians know that if lock yourself away and feed on a diet of dark music, alcohol, drugs, witchcraft youre going to be different. This is where the serial killers are coming from...from seperation from close relationships with others. And that poor diet.
Everything on earth is about the spirit realm. The Light which is God and the dark ones.
Absolutely everything.

Usual suspect,

I am not of the opinion that quiet people are boring. Some of the loudest extroverts I know are also the most boring people I know. And I don't think, honestly, that too many people regard those who are not the life and soul of the party to have something wrong with them. I think its we who make ourselves uncomfortable by worrying about how people may be judging us.

I used to be painfully shy as a small child but, because of my fathers high profile and our lifestyle, I was taught that it was my "duty" and "good manners" to put those around me at their ease.

The other day an acquaintance introduced me to someone else as being "Someone who is always herself and doesn't give a damn for what other people think of her." and I was really gobsmacked. I actually said "No, really. I'm quite a shy person actually". The acquaintance roared with laughter.

So, nope, no Ritalin, but yeah, I guess the social conditioning was put to work on me.

Hi again all
I just finished reading the rest of the comments, and found Col Rouge's to be of particular interest. I have worked in prisons too, and my experience was that the inmates I worked with were pretty good (although I suspect that some were treated with medications for control purposes than for their welfare). The staff (in many cases), on the other hand, who had completed psychological profiling to assess them for their jobs, were unconscionable bullies, and control freaks, simply because it was an environment where they could do that because the inmates had no way of fighting back.

A number of inmates had been treated with Ritalin in the earlier years, which in some cases had led to their amphetamine and "ice" addictions.

Cheers
Nicky