The Gift of Not Belonging: How Outsiders Thrive in a World of Joiners

 
　　l   獻給「局外人」（otrovert）的專書首度問世！
　　l   「我始終相信「局外人」是能為世界帶來獨特觀點的人。這本書不僅讓局外人感到被肯定，更充滿啟發。如果你曾懷疑為何自己常像個旁觀者，多過參與者的角色，這本書正是為你而寫。」——作家莎蒂・汀費爾德（Sadie Dingfelder）
 
　　你是否從未真心喜歡過社團活動、夏令營等大型團體活動？平心而論，自己倒也算不上太過內向或害羞，人們喜歡你、甚至期待你的加入，只是每當身在團體中，自己卻顯得不是那麼自在……心裡總是與他人保持了一段距離，自覺在社交場合中顯得有點格格不入。儘管享受與摯友的小型約會，卻難以適應過多參與者的活動。無論是小組活動，還是為了社交而社交，都讓你感到疲累。熱鬧的派對，更是讓人倍感疏離、孤單……
 
　　如果您符合這些描述，那麼很可能，就屬於「局外人」（otrovert）的性格類型。你和那些受到排擠，或被邊緣化的人不同，具有局外人人格特質的你，往往受到歡迎，甚至頗受喜愛，只是內心始終覺得自己「不屬於」這些群體。
 
　　擁有四十年臨床經驗，曾獲得美國精神疾病聯盟頒發「卓越精神科醫師獎」的拉米・卡明斯基醫師（Dr. Rami Kaminski），在2023年創立了「他者研究院」（Otherness Institute）提出「他者性」（otherness）與「局外人」（otrovert）的獨特現象，剖析這一群不需要在團體中尋求歸屬感的局外人，為何在性格上反倒享有獨特的優勢。卡明斯基指出，我們被教導的「歸屬感＝幸福」觀念，其實並不正確。事實上，不屬於任何群體，可能正是擁有豐富而有意義人生的關鍵。
 
　　當你對任何團體都沒有強烈歸屬感時，你的自我價值就不會依附於他人的認可；你可以在深入的一對一關係中找到連結，不必跟隨眾人遵循團體規則，也不需要在意團體關心的事。最珍貴的是——你可以全然地為自己而活，依自己的方式思考與存在。
 
　　本書鼓勵他向型人格者擁抱自身的獨特性，並提供實用的觀點與工具，協助他們在這個強調群體融合的世界中，自在地茁壯、發光。(文/博客來編譯)

From a renowned psychiatrist comes the first book to explore the otrovert personality—someone who feels like an outsider in any group, regardless of its members—revealing all the advantages of being an otrovert and ways they contribute to the world.

Were you the kid who never wanted to join after school clubs or go to sleepaway camp? Do you loathe parties but love spending time with close friends one-on-one? Are you allergic to teamwork but thrive creatively and professionally when working alone? Do you struggle to fit in? If so, you are likely an otrovert.

Otroverts are not natural born joiners. Unlike introverts, they are not shy or quiet, and do not quickly tire from one-on-one socializing. Yet in large groups they feel uncomfortable, alienated, and alone.

Unlike those who have been excluded or marginalized, otroverts are embraced and often quite popular. Yet they never feel like they truly belong.

In a culture that puts a premium on joining, many otroverts have gone through life feeling misunderstood. But, contrary to what we have been taught, argues psychiatrist Rami Kaminski, belonging is not a requirement for living a rich, rewarding life. Quite the opposite.

When you have no affinity for a particular group, your self-worth is not conditioned on the group’s approval. You can enjoy deep connection in individual relationships without the obligation to follow the rules the group follows, or care about what the group cares about. Best of all, you know of no other way to think or be, other than for yourself. The Gift of Not Belonging urges otroverts to embrace their unique gifts, and equips them with the knowledge and tools to thrive in a communal world.

Dr. Rami Kaminski, MD is an American pioneering psychiatrist with over four decades INTL | International Editions of experience treating patients across the spectrum, from world leaders to individuals with persistent psychiatric conditions. His expertise includes mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, anxiety, addiction disorders, and neurocognitive conditions. With a particular focus on integrative psychiatric approaches, Dr. Kaminski’s method uniquely bridges humanistic values with innovative therapeutic concepts.

His outstanding contributions to psychiatry have earned numerous accolades, including the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the Physician of the Year Award from New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital. In 2023, Dr. Kaminski founded the Otherness Institute with a mission to explain and decipher the unique phenomenon of otherness and otroversion.