Introversion and Extroversion: Facts and Resources

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Introversion and extroversion are two dimensions of human personality that are used to describe the way in which individuals act. The terms introversion and extroversion were first popularized by Carl Jung. Extroversion and introversion are typically viewed as a single continuum. Carl Jung and the authors of the Myers-Briggs provide a different perspective and suggest that everyone has both an extroverted side and an introverted side, with one being more dominant than the other.

Personality of Extroverts

Extroverts are characterized as assertive, gregarious, talkative, enthusiastic, and have a natural desire to look for excitement in life. They give out a lot of energy that is directed toward objects, people, and situations and like to express emotion and require a large degree of stimulation to get going, which they tend to get from other individuals around them. Individuals who possess extroverted characteristics do not have the ability to solve problems in their mind and, therefore, tend to talk out their thinking process. They tend to go around in large circles of acquaintances as they have a need and a desire for human interaction. Extroverts find sanctuary in large social gatherings, such as political groups, businesses, and public demonstrations, and often find themselves in employment opportunities such as teaching, politics, sales, brokering, acting, and managing, fields that allow extroverted individuals to be able to move around social circles, talk to numerous individuals, and have a great deal of human interaction. Because of an extrovert’s love of being social, when left to their own devices, they tend to get very bored. Extroverts have a confident and relaxed attitude, are accessible, and are often guilty of acting first and thinking later. Extroverted individuals characterize introverts as being passive and egocentric individuals.

Personality of Introverts

The personality type of introverts, in contrast, is characterized as being less sociable, less outgoing, and more reserved than their extrovert counter-parts because introverts do not need the same external stimulation that extroverts need. They tend to be more concerned with themselves than with other individuals and think more about ideas and concepts. Though one cannot typify introverts as loners, they do tend to have relationships with a fewer number of individuals than extroverts. Introversion should not be distinguished as individuals who find discomfort in social situations, rather they just have a different social preference. Introverts enjoy activities that can be done on their own, including computers, reading, drawing, and writing, and experience a sort of sensory overload when spending large quantities of time in social situations which is why introverts are often employed in fields that allow them to work on their own, such as a writer, engineer, artist, inventor, and composer. Unlike extroverts, introverts do not find any reward in spending time in social situations as it brings an overwhelming feeling of increased stimulation. They instead enjoy small gatherings with just a few close companions. It needs to be noted that introversion is not the same as an individual who exhibits signs of shyness; introverts prefer solitary activities over social ones, whereas shy individuals avoid social activities out of panic and alarm. Introverts keep their emotions inside and can reach a breaking point if pushed. Introverts do not have a need to change the world, they just want to understand why it acts the way it does. They do not take an action without thinking it over beforehand. Introverts typify extroverts as pushy and shallow individuals.

These personality types, according to Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, are due to psychic energy. If the energy tends to run outward, then the individual can be characterized as an extrovert. If the energy runs inward, the individual is characterized as an introvert. Psychic energy in extroverts increases when in social situations but decreases when alone. The opposite holds true for introverts who have more psychic energy when alone, but less when confronted with a social situation. However, though Jung has made the terms “introvert” and “extrovert” popular, his theory is considered to be obsolete. Hans Eysenck, a British psychologist, maintains that the behavioral differences between introverts and extroverts are due to brain physiology. Extroverts want social activity and excitement because it increases their level of arousal, in contrast to introverts who stay away from situations deemed social to keep a minimum arousal level. Eysenck based his division on introverts and extroverts on varying degrees of specific traits, such as excitability, level of activity, liveliness, degree of being social, and impulsiveness.

Resources about Extrovert and Introverts

Jung’s Psychological Types. Jung’s theory of psychological types is sketched as a prelude to developing a naturalistic ethics.

Definition of Extrovert: one whose personality is characterized by extroversion; broadly : a gregarious and unreserved person

Definition of Introvert : something that is or can be drawn in especially by imagination or one whose personality is characterized by introversion; broadly, a reserved or shy person

The Myers & Briggs Foundation

Resource by AnnaBelle

Annalise Kaylor is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant specializing in search engine optimized content for the web. As a writer, her work has appeared across the United States in print ads for Whirlpool, Maytag, Home Depot, and Lowe's, among others. As a consultant, she has worked primarily in the education sector, helping universities increase their web visibility and construct and implement social media strategy. Annalise is an avid reader, knitter, organic gardener and baker, as well as the author of the popular baking blog, Knead To Be Loaved. Annalise enjoys fly fishing, camping, and hiking.

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