Are complex personalities "dark"?

[PoetPhilosopher]

I have been talking to a lot of fundamentalist personalities lately (it's unavoidable if I want to socialize with local people), and I noticed a common pattern in their worldview (at least, with the people I talked to). They seem to see that which is simple and extroverted in regards to people as having a bright path, and people with personalities that are complex and not easily understood as “dark” or "having a darkness about them".

I wonder if you guys feel the same way, that people with complex personalities are "dark"?

My own view on this matter is that I kind of wish that I was misunderstanding the people I talked to, in this case, and that there are additional nuances. But some of them repeated these statements back to me multiple times. Although, I might see complex personalities as possibly, at times, being more introverted. But I think to call them "dark" is too basic. I don't fully understand what they mean when they say it, although I've noticed these people I've talked to are often very focused on family and tradition, while people I would call "complex personalities", often seem less focused on them.

 

[Stevicus]

I have been talking to a lot of fundamentalist personalities lately (it's unavoidable if I want to socialize with local people), and I noticed a common pattern in their worldview (at least, with the people I talked to). They seem to see that which is simple and extroverted in regards to people as having a bright path, and people with personalities that are complex and not easily understood as “dark” or "having a darkness about them".

I wonder if you guys feel the same way, that people with complex personalities are "dark"?

My own view on this matter is that I kind of wish that I was misunderstanding the people I talked to, in this case, and that there are additional nuances. But some of them repeated these statements back to me multiple times. Although, I might see complex personalities as possibly, at times, being more introverted. But I think to call them "dark" is too basic. I don't fully understand what they mean when they say it, although I've noticed these people I've talked to are often very focused on family and tradition, while people I would call "complex personalities", often seem less focused on them.

It depends on what one means by "dark." Some people see things in rigid, black-and-white terms, whereas others might see shades of gray in between.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

It depends on what one means by "dark." Some people see things in rigid, black-and-white terms, whereas others might see shades of gray in between.

I see.

To me, even seeing things in shades of gray kind of misses the point, as it's still not going outside that black-and-white paradigm (by definition).

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I suspect that all personalities are either complex or defective.

 

[JustGeorge]

I think sometimes 'dark' personalities are more willing to share their 'darkness', and are more willing to discuss deeper topics.

Just because a person seems simple on the outside doesn't mean they are. Sometimes some of the most complex people put on a simple, smiling face because they've realized its easier to get what they want out of life by doing so. Or, perhaps, despite their bubbling simplicity, have some rather complex thoughts that they simply don't want to share, because most folks around them just don't get it.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It depends on what one means by "dark." Some people see things in rigid, black-and-white terms, whereas others might see shades of gray in between.

Those MidWest dummies get scared by thinking things out, dispeling ghosts and superstition, reading philosophy, and anything not plain and simple. They go to their churches that tell them not to think too hard and instruct them to just accept whats spoon fed to them.
So what do they do when they see someone reading a book? It's gawk and stare amd ask why and like it's their chance to poke at a rare specimen.

 

[Secret Chief]

Just because a person seems simple on the outside doesn't mean they are.

Just so.

I voted Other, just to seem complex.

 

[JustGeorge]

Just so.

I voted Other, just to seem complex.

Eat your breakfast.

 

[Secret Chief]

Eat your breakfast.

View attachment 82924

Yes mom.

 

[syo]

They seem to see that which is simple and extroverted in regards to people as having a bright path, and people with personalities that are complex and not easily understood as “dark” or "having a darkness about them".

The opposite. Complex people are bright. Simple people are dark.

 

[Quintessence]

I don't understand the phrase "complex personality." Could you clarify what you mean by "complex" and how this is being measured? I'll grant it has been a while since the personality psychology class I took in undergrad, but I don't recall at any point us talking about personalities in terms of being "complex" or "uncomplex."

 

[Little Dragon]

I have been talking to a lot of fundamentalist personalities lately (it's unavoidable if I want to socialize with local people), and I noticed a common pattern in their worldview (at least, with the people I talked to). They seem to see that which is simple and extroverted in regards to people as having a bright path, and people with personalities that are complex and not easily understood as “dark” or "having a darkness about them".

I wonder if you guys feel the same way, that people with complex personalities are "dark"?

My own view on this matter is that I kind of wish that I was misunderstanding the people I talked to, in this case, and that there are additional nuances. But some of them repeated these statements back to me multiple times. Although, I might see complex personalities as possibly, at times, being more introverted. But I think to call them "dark" is too basic. I don't fully understand what they mean when they say it, although I've noticed these people I've talked to are often very focused on family and tradition, while people I would call "complex personalities", often seem less focused on them.

INTJ is my personality type according to the Myers Briggs thingy. Often people can misunderstand my clinical and detached attitude to certain things as an uncaring attitude. It's not that I don't care, but the best thinking is done without emotive influence and prejudice.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I don't understand the phrase "complex personality." Could you clarify what you mean by "complex" and how this is being measured? I'll grant it has been a while since the personality psychology class I took in undergrad, but I don't recall at any point us talking about personalities in terms of being "complex" or "uncomplex."

Sorry about that. There's no deep meaning behind my post, just it was a post about things some people in real life told me, and I further reasoned (with my own opinion) based on that.

Sorry if it's a little confusing, because I do make threads that have more of a professional or academic sense to them, but also some of my threads, a good portion of them - are either me experimenting with philosophy, or me talking about something that someone else told me (and mentioning that someone else told me), instead.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I have been talking to a lot of fundamentalist personalities lately (it's unavoidable if I want to socialize with local people), and I noticed a common pattern in their worldview (at least, with the people I talked to). They seem to see that which is simple and extroverted in regards to people as having a bright path, and people with personalities that are complex and not easily understood as “dark” or "having a darkness about them".

I wonder if you guys feel the same way, that people with complex personalities are "dark"?

My own view on this matter is that I kind of wish that I was misunderstanding the people I talked to, in this case, and that there are additional nuances. But some of them repeated these statements back to me multiple times. Although, I might see complex personalities as possibly, at times, being more introverted. But I think to call them "dark" is too basic. I don't fully understand what they mean when they say it, although I've noticed these people I've talked to are often very focused on family and tradition, while people I would call "complex personalities", often seem less focused on them.

I'll play Pop Psych 101 for $100 please...

I come from a working class background. First one in my family to get a degree, etc. Went to a rough gender-skewed (male) blue collar high school, and a much more liberal and gender-skewed (female) university.

Anecdotally, it was much easier to fit in at the high school if I either was into the right sorts of music, played sports (or at least was a fan) and spoke in a similar fashion to my peers.
I went a step further by growing a pretty impressive mullet to match with my black t-shirts, and was in 4 or 5 different school sports teams. Overachiever, that's me.

I went to uni, worked out quickly to not wear metal t-shirts, then slightly more slowly to switch out my mullet for a shorter hairstyle. And to start using more detailed language, less slang, etc. Closed out first year by winning an award for 'The Frog who was actually a Prince'.

Sounds horrible, but it wasn't...got some really nice feedback from people about how much more approachable and friendly and supportive I was than they'd originally assumed (the award was given out each year, I would certainly assume that no longer happens)

So...my point?
1) How I presented was related to my environment and 'fitting in' more than depth of personality.
2) Some settings encourage simplified language because conformity to the 'norm' includes less complex language. In my case that was due to the masculinity of the environment, and the relatively lower levels of formal education. It was somewhat similar when I played football vs when I played tennis. Contact vs non-contact sport, Team (conformity) vs individual. Male dominated vs gender mixed.

So...do I have a point? Hmm...maybe.

First off, as others have mentioned, none of this relates to the complexity of people's personality.
I think it relates to the willingness, ability and acceptance in COMMUNICATING the depths of their personality. Everyone has those depths, but the presentations are different.

Secondly, part of some people's worldviews include some level of 'speaking things to existence'. For whatever reason, they might see presentation of things in a clear and optimistic fashion as a key plank in securing good outcomes.

In my professional life, my role has often included what's known as 'Solution Architecture'. Part of that is identifying the weaknesses of a proposed solution as a way of testing it, finding improvements, workarounds, etc.

I'd always see that as being part of the actual solving of people's problems. But sometimes people see it as being difficult, negative or pessimistic. It's not...identifying the problem is always tied to an assessment of possible fixes. But when people have a nice, simple, tidy solution in mind, and reality doesn't conform...yeah...it can seem dark/negative/pessimistic I guess.

 

[John53]

I don't understand the question

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I don't understand the question

Typical Australian.

 

[John53]

Typical Australian.

I worked out your reply. Judge a book by its cover.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I don't understand the question

It's a bit complicated to decipher. Basically, I talked to some fundamentalists who seemed to think simple and extroverted personalities were "bright", and seemingly, personalities that were more convoluted were "dark". So I sought to get RF's opinion.

 

[John53]

It's a bit complicated to decipher. Basically, I talked to some fundamentalists who seemed to think simple and extroverted personalities were "bright", and seemingly, personalities that were more convoluted were "dark". So I sought to get RF's opinion.

I have no personality

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I worked out your reply. Judge a book by its cover.

Well...not really. How people present is strongly influenced by their environment.
There are exceptions, but very few.