Would being extremely introverted put me at a disadvantage as a physician?

[HoboCommander]

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Hi I'm an introvert who wants to thrive in an extroverted world.

Experience tells me I am really good with the ladies but beyond that, I have no social skills. I never put too much effort into developing my social skills since I was already getting plenty of ladies so there was never a need to develop them.

Being mildly autistic means that I have no idea what is going on underneath the subcontext of a social interaction, so I tend to say whatever is on my mind which is often inappropriate. Like when I first started volunteering, I would note to my patients how crappy their lives must be to be so sick, and they would be offended because they would think I look down upon them, which I don't, I'm just sympathizing with my patient. Sometimes I unintentionally insult the med students as well, but that's a different story, I don't mind doing that.

So I wonder if I will have a hard time interacting with the other med students in med school. As a really shy, quiet guy who keeps to himself, I get a lot of social anxiety. I am very handsome so I get approached all the time by strangers. When someone talks to me about the weather, I ignore them not knowing what to say, even though I want to say something just to be friendly. Unless it's a cute girl, then I can just ask her if she wants to come home with me and that's that.

As a physician, would my extreme introvertedness put me at a disadvantage? Is it important to be good at small talk? Are there others who are too shy to talk at all?

Would med school help me become more outgoing and less shy?

 

[175961]

Hi I'm an introvert who wants to thrive in an extroverted world.

Experience tells me I am really good with the ladies but beyond that, I have no social skills. I never put too much effort into developing my social skills since I was already getting plenty of ladies so there was never a need to develop them.

Being mildly autistic means that I have no idea what is going on underneath the subcontext of a social interaction, so I tend to say whatever is on my mind which is often inappropriate. Like when I first started volunteering, I would note to my patients how crappy their lives must be to be so sick, and they would be offended because they would think I look down upon them, which I don't, I'm just sympathizing with my patient. Sometimes I unintentionally insult the med students as well, but that's a different story, I don't mind doing that.

So I wonder if I will have a hard time interacting with the other med students in med school. As a really shy, nerdy guy who keeps to himself, I get
a lot of social anxiety. I am very handsome so I get approached all the time by strangers. When someone talks to me about the weather, I ignore them not knowing what to say, even though I want to say something just to be friendly. Unless it's a cute girl, then I ask her if she wants to come home with me and that's that.

As a physician, would my extreme introvertedness put me at a disadvantage? Is it important to be good at small talk? Are there others who are too shy to talk at all?

Would med school help me become more outgoing and less shy?

Sorry, cant offer much advice....but that part in bold kinda sounds like Dr. House

But apparently hes a good doctor

 

[soparu]

why not just be a gigalo?

 

[metalhead1023]

soparu lol

But you should try to develop some kind of social skills because some of the classes med school teaches are about patient doctor interactions. But mentioning this you could learn all you need in med school.

 

[HoboCommander]

why not just be a gigalo?

you would like that, wouldn't you 😀

well i want to be a doctor to help people. all my life i have wanted to help people.

Sorry, cant offer much advice....but that part in bold kinda sounds like Dr. House

But apparently hes a good doctor

Dr. House is my hero. I am inspired by his passion and dedication toward his patients, and I aspire to be like him.

 

[HoboCommander]

But you should try to develop some kind of social skills because some of the classes med school teaches are about patient doctor interactions. But mentioning this you could learn all you need in med school.

Thanks for replying! So med school teaches you social skills?

 

[soparu]

you would like that, wouldn't you 😀

well i want to be a doctor to help people. all my life i have wanted to help people.

just tell them you're a gyno and you make house calls 🙂
i'm sure purchasing a fake doctors white coat costs alot less than med school and social skills classes 🙂

 

[metalhead1023]

Deuce Bigalow helped make peoples lives way better.

 

[soparu]

Deuce Bigalow helped make peoples lives way better.

yup and he isn't "handsome" like Hobo humbily admits being.

 

[metalhead1023]

..."handsome" ... Hobo...

lol

 

[paranoid_eyes]

Dr. House is my hero. I am inspired by his passion and dedication toward his patients, and I aspire to be like him.

Dr. House isn't real....

also, i don't think you're introverted. if you were, you would never say something like that to a patient (you probably wouldn't even talk to him/her). you're probably inexperienced (just like the rest of us here)

 

[Flamen04]

You don't have to be extremely outgoing. Just be outgoing enough to be able to carry a conversation. You don't have to tell others everything about you if you don't want to...

 

[metalhead1023]

...also, i don't think you're introverted. if you were, you would never say something like that to a patient (you probably wouldn't even talk to him/her). you're probably inexperienced (just like the rest of us here)

Oh good point.

 

[HoboCommander]

just tell them you're a gyno and you make house calls 🙂
i'm sure purchasing a fake doctors white coat costs alot less than med school and social skills classes 🙂

Hmm I can see that this thread isn't going where I intended it to go (namely about being introverted in the medical field). Thanks a lot soparu for derailing my thread! What is it with you and gigalos?

Is anyone here introverted themselves? How do you guys manage to be successful dealing with your colleagues?

 

[Begaster]

There's a difference between being introverted and lacking social tact. You lack social tact. Learn to fake it.

 

[soparu]

Hmm I can see that this thread isn't going where I intended it to go (namely about being introverted in the medical field). Thanks a lot soparu for derailing my thread! What is it with you and gigalos?

Is anyone here introverted themselves? How do you guys manage to be successful dealing with your colleagues?

naturally, i had to say something to a guy who said he got all the ladies and is devilishly handsome.

 

[Myuu]

naturally, i had to say something to a guy who said he got all the ladies and is devilishly handsome.

This thread is worthless without pics?

 

[DrMattOglesby]

...weird thread.

 

[HoboCommander]

There's a difference between being introverted and lacking social tact. You lack social tact. Learn to fake it.

I can't fake it even if I wanted to, I have Asperger's Syndome so social interactions make no sense to me. Also, I like genuine people so i want to continue being genuine myself.

 

[HoboCommander]

naturally, i had to say something to a guy who said he got all the ladies and is devilishly handsome.

Beleive me, if you're a girl and we met on the streets, you wouldn't be able to resist. But this thread is about being introverted, about which I've yet to get a response to. Thanks to you!

 

[DrMattOglesby]

Ahhh okay now i see the point.
i subbed for a kid with Asperger's before.
if you are anything like him...i can still you see you succeeding as a physician.

 

[soparu]

Beleive me, if you're a girl and we met on the streets, you wouldn't be able to resist. But this thread is about being introverted, about which I've yet to get a response to. Thanks to you!

if it was simply a introverted thread, why mention your awesome looks and ladies man status?!

pics
or
it
didn't
happen

 

[Myuu]

if it was simply a introverted thread, why mention your awesome looks and ladies man status?!

pics
or
it
didn't
happen

...so without pictures he was never born? That's harsh.

 

[TheMagicCookie]

You blame Soparu for "derailing" your thread...and yet just about every post you've made thus far involves your appearance and luck with the ladies. You sure don't seem all too introverted via the internet, maybe you simply lack social finesse and subtlety. I hope you're able to figure things out.
BTW didn't one of the girls on the last season of America's Next Top Model have Asperger's? It was something similar if not.

 

[Lukkie]

All Rationals are good at planning operations, but Masterminds are head and shoulders above all the rest in contingency planning. Complex operations involve many steps or stages, one following another in a necessary progression, and Masterminds are naturally able to grasp how each one leads to the next, and to prepare alternatives for difficulties that are likely to arise any step of the way. Trying to anticipate every contingency, Masterminds never set off on their current project without a Plan A firmly in mind, but they are always prepared to switch to Plan B or C or D if need be.

Masterminds are rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population, and they are rarely encountered outside their office, factory, school, or laboratory. Although they are highly capable leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command, preferring to stay in the background until others demonstrate their inability to lead. Once they take charge, however, they are thoroughgoing pragmatists. Masterminds are certain that efficiency is indispensable in a well-run organization, and if they encounter inefficiency-any waste of human and material resources-they are quick to realign operations and reassign personnel. Masterminds do not feel bound by established rules and procedures, and traditional authority does not impress them, nor do slogans or catchwords. Only ideas that make sense to them are adopted; those that don't, aren't, no matter who thought of them. Remember, their aim is always maximum efficiency.

In their careers, Masterminds usually rise to positions of responsibility, for they work long and hard and are dedicated in their pursuit of goals, sparing neither their own time and effort nor that of their colleagues and employees. Problem-solving is highly stimulating to Masterminds, who love responding to tangled systems that require careful sorting out. Ordinarily, they verbalize the positive and avoid comments of a negative nature; they are more interested in moving an organization forward than dwelling on mistakes of the past.
Masterminds tend to be much more definite and self-confident than other Rationals, having usually developed a very strong will. Decisions come easily to them; in fact, they can hardly rest until they have things settled and decided. But before they decide anything, they must do the research. Masterminds are highly theoretical, but they insist on looking at all available data before they embrace an idea, and they are suspicious of any statement that is based on shoddy research, or that is not checked against reality.

 

[soparu]

haha well thanks lukkie for that wonderful myers briggs like cut and paste lol

 

[MilkmanAl]

Interviews are going to be a serious b*tch for you, OP. In a process that's all about "playing the game," being unable to play puts you at a serious disadvantage. Assuming you get through the app process and med school, you might want to consider a specialty that involves little patient interaction. Your patients will probably hate you, to be quite frank, if they have to talk to you for any length of time. Sometimes you need to have that filter that keeps you from saying "You have health problems because you're a fat pig." or something similar.

 

[da8s0859q]

I can't fake it even if I wanted to, I have Asperger's Syndome so social interactions make no sense to me. Also, I like genuine people so i want to continue being genuine myself.

Beleive me, if you're a girl and we met on the streets, you wouldn't be able to resist. But this thread is about being introverted, about which I've yet to get a response to. Thanks to you!

Thank you for the entertainment, big guy.

 

[p30doc]

Hmm I can see that this thread isn't going where I intended it to go (namely about being introverted in the medical field). Thanks a lot soparu for derailing my thread! What is it with you and gigalos?

Is anyone here introverted themselves? How do you guys manage to be successful dealing with your colleagues?

I consider myself introverted, a misanthrope, and generally more quiet than average. I strongly dislike small talk and tend to choose my words wisely. I did car sales and was rather successful, as well other similar customer service heavy jobs. I am sure I will be a fine doctor. Just because you don't enjoy speculating on how good or bad the weather has been or local sports teams doesn't mean you are going to be a crap doctor. I don't know you personally or what you are like, but I think in general being introverted and quiet won't affect your practice.

Btw, are you officially diagnosed with asperger's or it is a self diagnosis?

 

[Maxwell Edison]

My dad became a pathologist in part because he said he didn't feel comfortable "chit-chatting" with patients. That seems to work fine for him.

As for interviews...I hope you don't get an interview from someone with a comb-over. Otherwise, practice.

 

[brianmartin]

So you feel that beneath your handsome exterior is a borderline autistic personality who might not thrive in medicine because it requires interaction with people. I think it is impossible to tell without knowing you personally. What I look for in a colleague is, first of all, can I trust them to get things right most of the time (i.e are they competent). Then, do I like to be around them? If there is a slow time, can you chat with them about life? Do they know about what's going on in society? Or are they so wrapped up in their own lives they have nothing to talk about?

I'm an INTJ, and I consider myself to be an amateur in the realm of social skills, at best. The main reason is I basically do not spend very much time thinking about the details of how other people behave. However, I've learned over time by meeting lots of people that everyone is different and you never know who you'll get along with. Even an extreme introvert such as yourself can grow and thrive, often it just takes time and maturity.

As a physician, would my extreme introvertedness put me at a disadvantage? Is it important to be good at small talk? Are there others who are too shy to talk at all?

As a physician, you have to be able to communicate with others. I think that if you have confidence in yourself, you can learn to be more talkative. It's not like you have to LOVE gossiping with everyone. Some people are genetically wired to do that, others are not.

Would med school help me become more outgoing and less shy?

I think it probably would, but that is a very short answer to a big question. Any situation which forces you outside your comfort zone will make you more mature. In 3rd and 4th year you'll be on teams where you are constantly having to interact with patients and all the people working. This would probably help you become more adept at social interaction.

Being mildly autistic means that I have no idea what is going on underneath the subcontext of a social interaction

I lean mildly in that direction. Like if someone is attracted to me, I don't realize it. Usually, I am not even aware of any "subtext" to a social interaction. It can be good and bad, just like any other personality trait. Just think, some people may be so obsessed with the subtext beneath social situations that they imagine things, or develop completely incorrect assumptions about people. Don't sell yourself short and build up your perceived inadequacy in your mind. You may have a rare personality type but that can't stop you from achieving your goals.

PS: here is one social lesson, never discuss your own attractiveness or how many "ladies" you attract, unless of course you are doing a Will Ferrell impression 🙂

 

[Narmerguy]

...so without pictures he was never born? That's harsh.

I think sometimes people aren't even aware that a certain person is introverted because they know how to interact in social situations even though they prefer not to. From my understanding of the introverted/extroverted difference, extroverts draw energy from being around others and interacting with them where as introverts draw energy from being alone and doing things by themselves that contents them.

You seem more inexperienced than introverted to me, but even if you are introverted, you simply need to try to "put up" with others even though it may be draining. I think as far as being a physician, certainly all physicians aren't extroverted so you'll do fine. I think, as someone else noted, you should also really appear on not appearing standoffish during interviews.

And if you've got the lady-magnet built into your bloodstream...who needs social interaction?

 

[Textuality]

You know what they say, practice makes perfect.

I was really shy coming into college, so I joined a martial arts team (it's something I enjoy, and feel relatively good at) and 4 years later, I'm pretty comfortable starting conversations with strangers about pretty much anything (and fairly sure I'm coming off charming and not crazy, haha, I hope..) It was a somewhat slow process, but I'm happy I made that decision to work on my introversion.

I don't think being shy/introverted hurts you as a physician, but it may hurt you as an APPLICANT, both to med schools and to residency. You can practice your interviewing skills early if you're concerned, just find some friends who you trust to be honest and who are pretty normally calibrated as far as social interactions go to give you mock interviews and feedback. However, where introversion/autism may catch up to you more is during your clinical years, where your grades are somewhat based on others' evaluations of you, and so if you're too quiet or awkward, you may not get the scores you might otherwise have gotten if you were more social. This is just what I've heard from med students, but it seems to make sense.

My other concern with Aspergers in particular, is that depending on the field, you may be running a higher risk of getting sued if they see you as being callous towards them and perhaps careless of their treatment. I've heard that the best defense against law suits is good communications between doctors and patients, so that they trust you, have faith that you're doing all you can, and have their best interest at heart. If this isn't something you can easily convey, and if you tend to often alarm or aggravate your patients, you might run into some serious trouble in certain clinical fields.

Just my two cents. Still, practice makes perfect! And having close friends who can give you honest feedback never hurts 🙂