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Introvert and extrovert are fundamentally different psychological types of personality. In psychology, three psychotypes are distinguished: introvert, extrovert, ambivert. Introvert and extrovert refer to two very opposing personality types. An extrovert is a type of person whose behavior is directed at the people around him, active interaction with them. An introvert is a type of personality whose actions are directed inward, that is, towards oneself. Ambivert is a person who combines all the qualities of an extrovert and an introvert.
The definition of extrovert and introvert consists of the following characteristics. Extroverts prefer to communicate with different people, try to attract the attention of others, so they often participate in public speeches, contests, and crowded events.
Introverts are less focused on communication and various activities, they are more comfortable spending time alone with inner reflections, anxieties or feelings. Often introverts are creative people, they also prefer to observe any social processes from the outside, but not take part in them.
For an extrovert, for a comfortable state, it is necessary to have people near him, whose help he can also use in a collective matter. An introvert, on the other hand, is alien to everything that involves interaction with others, he is comfortable working alone, with his own strength, not expecting or accepting help from anyone.
The concept of introvert and extrovert is one of the basic characteristics of a person, since they determine the direction of behavior, the main motives and the nature of the relationship.
Introvert and extrovert, who is this
The definition of extrovert and introvert lies in the characteristics of their energy. Since all vital processes are energy-intensive, the way to compensate for this energy is a very important process for every person. Usually, recuperation occurs at the expense of food and sleep, only certain individuals need additional resources. So, extroverts need society, from communication they receive an additional charge of positive and strength. Without active interaction with other personalities, extroverts begin to "wither" before our eyes. Introverts have enough sleep, they can go through the day without communication with anyone. From this definition it follows that the extrovert is to some extent an "energy vampire." An "energy vampire" is a person in need of energy recharge. Replenishment of his reserves occurs by absorbing the energy of other people, doing this in a non-constructive way.
Thus, the energy vampire is an extrovert who acquires energy through inflicting pain on other people (insulting, threatening, blackmailing, criticizing).
But if you declare that the energy vampire is an extrovert, then you first need to indicate that not all extroverts are extroverts. Most extroverts who receive energy from people do it through good, benefiting others.
To understand how an extrovert differs from an introvert, you need to observe a person's behavior. The whole essence is best expressed in behavior.
Often, almost all people in friendly companies tell jokes to each other from time to time, but there is such a person in the company whose jokes always seem the funniest, funniest and most amusing, and everyone is ready to listen to this person for hours. This person is without a doubt, an extrovert who brings pleasure to other people and himself enjoys it.
In every office, every company or factory, workers can be found extroverted and introverted. And each of them, both extrovert and introvert, has advantages and disadvantages. For effective performance and efficiency, it is necessary that all the advantages of an extrovert and an introvert are fully utilized one hundred percent. Disadvantages, in turn, on the contrary, it is necessary to try to rework in order to turn them into advantages.
It is possible to highlight the main advantages of an introvert in his professional activities. The introvert's propensity for individual work prevents many problems, since all responsibility for the implementation lies with him alone, and in case of any misunderstandings, then all questions will be posed to only one introvert, and he, in turn, knows well what he is doing and he is not who will shove the blame.
Professionally significant advantages of the extrovert: the ease of making new contacts allows the extrovert to conclude successful deals, conduct interviews. Extroverts are so confident and sociable that it doesn't really matter to them who stands in front of them, be it an ambassador or an ordinary worker, they know their job, their work is their life.
Extroverts are sociable with friends and are equally sociable at work. Extroverts do not have public speeches, on the contrary, the more they see people in front of them, whose eyes are fixed on them, the more they feel self-confidence, as they are saturated with the energy of the audience.
In addition to the merits of introverts, they also have disadvantages. Because of their personality traits, introverts do not communicate well with their boss or work colleagues if they have to meet. Through too solitary work, introverts may find it even more difficult to communicate, since there is no need for communication, and at work they do not have to talk to anyone at all. Lack of ability becomes a big problem for introverts, but if their job is solitary activity, then they will do it at a high level.
Although extroverts are loved and accepted by almost everyone in their circle, since they are active, sociable, want to develop, self-actualize, at first it seems difficult to identify some of their shortcomings. But just because extroverts are too active, they are mistaken for irresponsible people, since their mood can change quite often, and this affects their performance. An extrovert in business and in personal communication, in most cases, does not worry about the comfort of the interlocutor or client. Even if a person expresses negative reactions, the extrovert also accepts them, since this is also energy. Extroverts have a weakness in public speaking, so by getting too carried away with their performance, the extrovert can turn it into a farce.
Extrovert and introvert, you can give some recommendations, using which they can develop patterns of behavior, as in the opposite personality type.
Introverts must learn to communicate with people in such a way as to receive only a positive reaction from the interlocutor or from his listener. To do this, they need to gain patience and force themselves to communicate with others, especially with those with whom they should bring some success.
Introverts who do not like to communicate, but must do this, due to business or personal circumstances, can find a person among people who loves to talk a lot, then from the side of the introvert it will not be necessary to strain too much, since a chatty, especially superficial person will use the company of such " active "listener and will talk incessantly, and the introvert, in turn, will receive what he wanted - the necessary connections.
Extroverts may want to learn to control the communication process so that they can stop at the moment when they see that the other person is tired of their monologue or expression of any other negative reaction. The extrovert needs to learn to curb their emotions and put the interests of the interlocutor in a high place, and not show the dominance of their own interests.
In individual psychology, there are three types of personalities: introvert, extrovert, ambivert.
The extrovert and introvert have already been discussed above, it remains to define the type of ambivert. An ambivert is a person who combines the properties of two types, both an extrovert and an introvert. That is, an ambivert sometimes becomes the soul of the company, that is, an extrovert, but often he may have a desire to be alone, like an introvert. These are people who are sometimes not immediately noticed in a large company, but in a close circle they are quite sociable. Ambivert is able to speak publicly in front of people, but he may have problems making new contacts.
How to identify an introvert or extrovert
Determining whether one has a psychological type of introvert or extrovert can be done using special tests designed to determine the type of personality. Here is an example of the most frequently asked questions to determine the psychological type of an extrovert or introvert: is it comfortable for me to work alone, is it easy for me to communicate with people, especially new ones, is there a craving for public speaking or a tendency to stay in the spotlight, and other similar questions.
To understand how an extrovert differs from an introvert, you can even just watch any of their public speeches. The emotional fullness of this speech will be completely different for both the extrovert and the introvert. The extrovert will begin his speech with humor, ask the listeners how they are doing, ask some leading questions about the topic, which an introvert will never do.
The introvert begins with a measured, calm narration, gradually increasing the emotionality of the speech.
To determine how an extrovert differs from an introvert, you need to take a good look at the people around you, observe the differences in their behavior and draw conclusions with what type of person you just talked to.
An introvert likes solitude, self-absorption, during which he daydreams, fantasizes, or reflects. Introverts, even if they come to a party, try to keep aloof from others, they like loneliness and calmness. Introverts can use their characteristics for professional purposes, certain life events that require a person to be focused and planned. An introvert knows well what and why he is doing, he will not make unnecessary movements, interact with the outside world, if there is no reason for this. The introvert's character is calm. He is a reasonable and balanced nature. An introvert will not make categorical hasty decisions, will think through all the options, and choose the most effective from all sides. Often this balance is bordering on indecision and slowness. In their personal lives, introverted women are home keepers, caring mothers. Introverted men are wonderful and loyal husbands, but they can often be used by manipulative wives.
Extroverts are highly active, courageous, and spontaneous. This is both their strength and weakness. Extroverted individuals strive to be leaders in everything, to be socially recognized. For them, the most important are the manifestations of recognition of their merits, rather than the real value of their actions and achievements. They never get tired of the company of people, because by communication they add energy to themselves.
Extroverts are very easy-going, proactive, and determined. Sometimes their determination borders on recklessness. They are the soul of the company, they are leaders and leaders. Using their power, they can become arrogant and selfish. On the way to achieving success, nothing will stop them, they are confident in their actions and they don't need anything else. In love relationships, extroverts always take over. Therefore, if a couple in love consists of two extroverts, then in the event of a quarrel, they will defend their innocence in front of the other, loudly sorting out the relationship.
It should be noted that there are not so many pronounced psychotypes. Often an extrovert is simply a person who loves to talk more than others. In fact, in each person there are qualities of both types, just their manifestation is different, some features can be more revealed, others less.
For example, a person can be cheerful, cheerful, smile at everyone and always, but he has periods when he does not want to communicate with anyone, plunges into his inner world, can mask his problems with the manifestation of excessive activity and sociability. This extraversion is false. Introverts, who are so slow to react, can make a decision quickly enough at the right time and then not regret it.
Most clearly, you can observe the compatibility of an introvert and an extrovert in the relationship between a man and a woman. These opposite types are examples of fairly strong alliances. They complement each other perfectly. At the right time, they can cheer or, on the contrary, calm down their partner, and it does not matter at all which of them has which type.
Introverts quickly get bored with each other, because none of them is the first to show the initiative and they can be so inactive for a long time, plunging into themselves. A couple of extroverts often conflict, their quarrels can go on for a very long time, because none of them wants to give in, they feed on each other's energy, such a relationship requires strong nerves.
As you can see, the compatibility of an introvert and an extrovert is quite natural, although at first glance it would seem to someone that this is far from the case.
Both psychological types have both positive and negative qualities, which makes it reckless to choose which of them is better. Therefore, both introverts and extroverts must be present in life, as has already been demonstrated in the examples of couples above. Simply, each person, by virtue of understanding his personal characteristics, should be able to adapt to other people in order to ensure a full life, good relations with the world around him and people.
How an introvert becomes an extrovert
Surely there are people who are worried about the question: can an introvert become an extrovert. The answer is: "if you really want to ...". But it is important to understand that it will be very difficult for a person who has lived his entire conscious life as an introvert to rebuild his attitudes, worldview, and behavior.
In fact, why do this at all, if a person is comfortable being an introvert, and he feels comfortable in his body. But, if an introvert personally wants to change his worldview, reconsider his views, transform his personality, because he needs it, then he can try to change.
It is important to understand that the attempts of introverts to become an extroverted person may at first seem clumsy, give a pretense of behavior, but gradually a person will acquire new skills and abilities. This is unlikely to greatly affect his personal attitudes, but from the outside, an introvert may well seem to be an extrovert. So, can an introvert become an extrovert? Answer: partially. Here are some ways to become an extrovert.
The first tip for introverts is to find a "productive discomfort" zone for yourself. It means finding a state that goes beyond the usual, in which a person feels more productive and active. It is the state of such discomfort that leads to increased productivity. So, a person finds a new job and feels a certain awkwardness or discomfort, but he steps over himself and tries to work effectively.
You can also go to travel to places where the privileges of the material world are absent. Only by leaving the zone of personal comfort, by opening towards the world, an introvert can experience the feelings that an extrovert feels, enjoying the novelty.
You just have to start doing it small. For example, if an introvert was always alone in the office during his lunch break, ordering food with delivery, then he needs to go out with colleagues for lunch in a cafe once.
A useful way to change yourself is to challenge yourself, for example, once or twice a week you need to do something absolutely uncommon, something that you always wanted to do, but internal complexes did not allow. Extroverts don't feel inhibited, they succumb to inner impulses, and it doesn't matter if they regret it too much. You need to push yourself to stop succumbing to internal barriers, they need to be destroyed.
Just do not immediately make plans for Napoleon, you need to gradually enter a new state for yourself. For example, start greeting your neighbors, stop chatting with them for a minute, ask people on the street what time it is, sign up for some courses, and much more.
If an introvert decided to try some kind of event, a crowded event, he can find his own kind on it. There, often there are always people who are not doing what everyone else is doing, they do not play games, do not take part in contests, and are suspended. Perhaps they had a similar situation, maybe they came to such an event in search of new acquaintances, but are afraid to take the first step. In this case, you can be the first to take the initiative, demonstrate your unobtrusive society and start a good acquaintance.
It can be even better if you use your indecision for your own purposes. For example, to start communication by saying that you are here for the first time and do not know anyone, do not know how to start a conversation with all these strangers. Thus, due to your sincerity, you can win over a person and relieve tension. You just need to think in advance what questions you can put to other people, what exactly to talk about yourself, so that there are no awkward pauses in conversations.
You can use one proven method: just ask the person how he got to this event, what relation he has to him and what he actually does in his usual time of spending. People love to talk about themselves. Thus, it turns out that the introvert does not say much, but he established contact, the partner will remember him as a pleasant interlocutor.
If it is not possible to attend some events, then you can arrange them at home, so you can get to know people better, and the atmosphere will help relieve tension.
It is important, after the efforts spent on increasing social activity, to make yourself a restorative rest. Still, an introvert has to spend a lot of moral and physical strength to communicate with people. At home, alone, he can spend time as he is comfortable, in complete silence.
Speaker of the Medical and Psychological Center "PsychoMed"
Psychologists divide a person's personality into three main psychotypes. They are determined using the characteristics of introversion, extraversion and ambivalence. Who are introverts and extroverts? What are their differences and advantages?
These types are strikingly different, because they are complete opposites of each other. Each psychotype is curled up from innate qualities.
Here is a brief description, for an initial understanding of what each of them means:
- Extrovert - willingly interacts with the outside world and the people around him.
- An introvert is closed in the inner world, actions and thoughts are aimed at understanding oneself.
- Ambivert is a cross between an extrovert and an introvert.
To know how each type differs, it is necessary to analyze the behavior of different people. Introversion and extraversion are basic personality traits. The characteristic gives an assessment and the reasons for the behavior inherent in each psychotype.
What is the Difference Between Introvert and Extrovert
How to determine what type of personality a person belongs to? - We need to watch him. Behavior and reaction to external factors and situations is an indicator of a person's belonging to one type or another.
| Attitude and behavior | Introvert | Extrovert |
| · Friendship | Prefers a small social circle, limited by a small number of friends. Strong trusting relationships in exceptional cases, when friendship has been tested by time and situations. But, despite having at least one friend, he relies only on himself, preferring a lonely pastime. | He loves large companies, has many friends and acquaintances. Nor is it a dominant factor that most of these relationships are superficial. Feels satisfied, surrounded by a large crowd of friends. |
| Praise | having completed the task, does not expect to be praised for it. The main thing is that he himself is satisfied with the work done. | a viewer is needed who will appreciate the works, even if they are not of great importance. Those with leadership qualities need praise and recognition. |
| Attention to detail | Calmness, poise and attentiveness are characteristic. Accustomed to being in their inner world most of the time, they protect themselves from the influence of external factors that distract. Therefore, they are happy to take on painstaking work that requires detailed study and long-term implementation. “It's not that I'm so smart. I just spend more time solving the problem. ”Albert Einstein |
Different fields of study are given with ease. But due to constant contact with other people, they are often distracted by unnecessary things. They prefer work related to communication, which does not require careful study of details and nuances. Long immersion in details, detached from the outside world, causes fatigue and melancholy in the extrovert. |
| New contacts | Starting a direct conversation with a stranger is not the most comfortable way to communicate. If business issues are to be resolved, they would rather use e-mail than resort to a personal contact or a phone call. | Any contacts are easy, the only difference is in the presentation and form of communication. Having a natural openness and talkativeness, it is not difficult to start a dialogue with a stranger. It is important to understand that the ability to make new connections is not in every case determined by the type of personality. This can be influenced by qualities such as shyness and timidity. Such qualities can be possessed by an introvert and an extrovert. |
| ·Public opinion | The main thing is agreement with oneself, inner aspirations and principles. Thought processes are directed towards inner sensations and comfort. Therefore, I do not care about the opinions of others regarding thoughts and actions. Only their own feelings and perception of what is happening are predominant. | Thinks about what people will say and feel. Accustomed to being in the thick of things, he tries to please other people's desires and preferences. Acting to please the collective intelligence, he feels that he has become a full-fledged part of society. |
| Trouble | Spending time alone with himself, he endures difficulties much more calmly and silently. Reasoning aimed at solving any problem is accompanied by deep introspection, without the intervention of outsiders. | It is necessary to communicate with people in any situation, from this receives an emotional boost. When faced with adversity, he will feel the need to tell others about it. Unable to cope with negative emotions on his own, he shares the problem with anyone, hoping to get support. |
| Energy recovery | To renew vital energy, you need to enter your comfort zone. Calmness, loneliness and sleep will be a good medicine against fatigue. | Gains strength from the outside, communicating with people, feeding on positive emotions and impressions. |
The above qualities are not accurate indicators of belonging to a particular type. Behavior depends on many factors and circumstances that serve as a catalyst for its temporary change.
The transition from introvert to extrovert
Can one become another? There is no correct answer, because this applies to individual cases. Psychotype changes are a complete personality change.
It is believed that there is an extrovert in every introvert, and vice versa. The difference is that in someone more certain qualities inherent in one of the two psychotypes prevail.
If an introvert decides to change his lifestyle, trying to feign it to join large companies, portraying a cheerful outgoing interlocutor, this can negatively affect the internal state. Accustomed to spending most of the time alone, an introvert, surrounded by noise and numerous people, can expose his refined psyche to stress.
The world is ruled by introverts who know how to pretend to be extroverts.
A. Zhurba
In order to make some changes in life, it is enough to think about what areas of activity and thinking can be taken out of the comfort zone. If the changes do not become painful, you can continue to develop in the chosen direction, combining all sorts of sides.
Fragment of the book Marty Laney. The benefits of introverts. - M .: Mann, Ivanov and Ferber, 2013.
In this book, a practicing psychotherapist and leading expert in the United States on introversion brings together a wealth of experience and research findings to dissuade introverts from being wrong and to help them see and appreciate their strengths - analytical skills, creativity , the ability to high concentration. In addition, the book contains practical advice on how to improve relationships with people of different temperaments in the family, at work and with friends.
The founder of this theory, Carl Gustav Jung, believed that extraversion and introversion are innate properties that have a physiological basis. Modern science has confirmed the correctness of his intuitive guesses. He argued that we can best adapt to this world by moving the continuum from the introverted to the extroverted end of the spectrum when we need it. In Jung's opinion, apart from extremes, one can be at any point on the continuum, and that is quite normal. However, we are always pulled in one direction more than another. We all have a “comfortable niche” where we function best. Jung believed that significant harm would be done to a child if, in the process of education, they were pushed outside the natural area of his temperament, since this is “violence against the innate disposition of the individual”. He was convinced that this leads to mental illness, but Jung pointed out that other points on the continuum are available to us. And the ability to move around it can improve our awareness of the whole process. Jung believed that if a person functions outside his natural niche (extraverted or introverted): additional energy is spent, and new energy is not generated. But if you learn to accumulate energy and thus create its supply, then it can be effectively used in a less natural environment for oneself. The basic differences between introverts and extroverts are as follows: The main thing that distinguishes an introvert from an extrovert is the source of energy. Extroverts are energized by the outside world - actions, people, places, and things. They are wasters of energy. Long periods of inactivity, inner contemplation, loneliness or communication with only one person deprive them of a sense of the meaning of life. Nevertheless, extroverts need to alternate between the times when they are especially active, with the intervals of just being, otherwise they will get lost in the whirlwind of feverish activity. Extroverts express themselves easily, are result-oriented, and adore the crowd and the action. Most of them like to communicate, engage in some kind of activity, work with people, be in the thick of things and events. Contrary to popular belief, they are not necessarily light and cheerful, but the focus of their attention is always outside their personality. Extroverts easily waste energy and often cannot stop. They quickly recuperate by doing activities outside the home, organizing active leisure. Extroverts can feel lonely and feel empty when not in contact with people or the outside world. They often find it difficult to relax and give their body a rest. Introverts, for their part, find a source of energy in their inner world of ideas, emotions and impressions. Contrary to popular belief, these are not necessarily quiet or withdrawn people. Simply the focus of their attention is within their own personality. They need a quiet place to think carefully and recharge. They conserve energy. The outside world quickly puts them into a state of overexcitation, and they have the unpleasant feeling that something is "too much." This can manifest itself in nervousness or, conversely, apathy. Therefore, introverts need to limit social contact so as not to be completely devastated. Nevertheless, they need to supplement the time spent alone with time in society, otherwise they may lose their vision of the future, relationships with others and, in general, communication with the outside world. things independently, focus deeply and work creatively. The next difference between introverts and extroverts is their sense of external arousal and response to external stimuli. Extroverts are comfortable in an atmosphere of constant action. Extroverts like to experience more emotions and new experiences, while introverts like to know more about what they are experiencing. Introverts are characterized by a high degree of internal activity, and everything that comes from the outside world very quickly increases their level of tension. Introverts, often without even understanding why, try to regulate the feeling of tension by limiting the flow of information from the outside. Introverts are not intimidated by the difficulty of being able to focus on one or two activities and not having to work under stress. But if there are too many things to do, they quickly feel overwhelmed. The very presence of other people already overexcites introverts. Energy leaves them when they are in a crowd, classroom, or in a noisy, nerve-racking environment. They may like people very much, but after talking to one person for a while, introverts usually feel a strong urge to leave, take a break, “take a breath.” Extroverts also need breaks, but for different reasons. For example, if they go to the library, they stay in a state of cognition for a very short time (internal process) and soon begin to feel the need to walk between shelves, go to vending machines, talk to people (external process). Interruptions in communication can increase arousal in extroverts and decrease it in introverts. Extroverts feel the need to recharge the more they feel the lack of arousal within. The third difference between extroverts and introverts is the perception of the concepts of breadth and depth. In general, extroverts prefer a wide scale: to have a lot of friends, impressions, to understand a little of everything, to be versatile. What they learn from the environment is usually not deepened by processing the experience. Introverts prefer depth and limit the experience, but in each they get to the very roots. They usually have few friends, but very close ones. Their mind absorbs information from the environment and then analyzes and expands it. Introverts enjoy exploring a subject down to the roots, looking for the "wealth" of a few experiences, not variety. It is enough for them to discuss one or two topics in a conversation, otherwise they begin to think that they are overwhelmed with thoughts. So, the main differences between an extrovert and an introvert. Extrovert:
- Likes to be in the thick of things.
- He loves variety, he gets bored of the same thing.
- He knows many people, considers them friends.
- He enjoys chatting with people, even with strangers.
- The action energizes him, eagerly grabs the next thing.
- Speaks or acts without having to think first.
- In general, this is a rather energetic person.
- Tends to talk more than listen.
- He prefers to relax alone or in a small circle of close friends.
- He considers only those with whom a deep relationship has been established as friends.
- Needs rest after some activity, even if it is entertainment.
- Seems calm, level-headed, loves to watch.
- As a rule, he thinks first and then speaks or acts.
- Feels empty in head when in a group or under stress.
- Dislikes feeling overworked.
And these are not just big words - we are really all different and completely unique. But still there is something that unites us. We can talk about the similarity of temperament traits, characteristics of the emotional sphere, the level of intelligence or attitude to the surrounding reality. This allows psychologists to group people according to the characteristics of their mental activity. Extroverts and introverts are two such large groups. Can absolutely any person be attributed to one of these groups? What are the differences between the extraverted and introverted personality types?
Being a social being, a person from the moment of his birth to a ripe old age experiences in communication with his own kind. - this is one of the most difficult trials for a person, and any hardships and hardships are easier to bear if close relatives, friends, ready to support and help people are nearby. Everyone has a need for social contacts, but it manifests itself in different ways, and the level of this need is different.
The most striking desire to interact with other people is noticeable in extroverts, they are literally focused on society. No wonder the very term "extrovert" is associated with the Latin prefix extra - "outside". For the first time this concept, like the term introvert, was proposed by K. Jung in his book "Psychological Types". To date, a huge number of psychological studies have been carried out, confirming the theory of C. Jung and complementing the characteristics of these types.
- Extroverts are always in the midst of people, they draw energy from the crowd and readily throw it back in the form of sociability, demonstrativeness and desire for popularity. The best work for an extrovert is in a team, and the best rest is in a noisy, cheerful company.
- When faced with problems, the extrovert immediately runs for help and support from friends, and he usually has a lot of them. But he also willingly and often noisily shares any of his success with others. Therefore, often the extrovert is "too much" - he is tired of his assertiveness, excessive sociability, talkativeness and heightened emotionality. In addition, these people are often intrusive or aggressive, and they have serious problems with a sense of tact.
- A large number of people around the extrovert do not just like it, it excites him, acts intoxicating. Therefore, once in the spotlight, the extrovert completely loses the brakes, which he already has not very good.
People of this type absorb the world with all their senses, they grab onto a lot of things, get carried away with a bunch of different things, but rarely know something deeply and thoroughly.
Summarizing all of the above, the following personality traits inherent in extroverts can be distinguished:
- social orientation;
- sociability and sociability to obsession;
- openness and interest in people;
- activity and assertiveness;
- increased excitability, especially among people;
- a tendency to dominate and often to aggression.
However, these traits in people manifest themselves in different ways, so in psychology it is customary to talk about the level of extraversion. There are also special tests that allow you to determine the severity of these personality characteristics. That is, someone is more extrovert, and someone less. The same applies to another type of personality - an introvert.
Introverts - who are they?
As the name implies, introverts are turned inward, focused on their inner world and are in no hurry to open their souls to the first comer and to the second too. Unlike open, outgoing, and hyperactive extroverts, introverts are withdrawn, self-absorbed, and appear to be slow-witted.
But it is not so. It's just that introverted individuals spend their energy sparingly and within themselves, and do not throw it out like extroverts.
- They are characterized by immersion in their thoughts and feelings.
- Very often these are people of a creative mind, although their isolation and unsociability do not allow them to openly demonstrate the results of their work, they do not like to brag and avoid any publicity.
- Introverts are less visible than extroverts, but no less, and often significantly more productive than people with an extroverted personality type, who do not so much do, but demonstrate achieved results.
Introverts are called reclusive hermits. This is also not entirely true. Of course, the crowd, the noisy crowd and the hustle and bustle of the people arouses their rejection, and often frightens them. But the only friend, the closest person, the introvert will always be faithful, although he will not shout about this loyalty at every step.
An introvert is unobtrusive, he prefers to cope with his troubles and problems on his own, but will not refuse to help his neighbor. True, he tries to avoid too persistent and obsessive types, their pressure forces him to withdraw into himself, to hide in his shell. This often leads others to view the introvert as a callous, selfish egoist. Among this type, such people are also found - if a person is only interested in his own, it is difficult to love other people.
Summing up the analysis of the characteristics of an introvert, we can distinguish a number of inherent traits:
- calmness and equanimity;
- isolation and lack of communication;
- laconic, inexpressive facial expressions and gestures;
- lack of communication and unwillingness to work in a team;
- a low level of emotionality or experiencing emotions within oneself;
- a tendency to think;
- things and theories interest him more than living people;
- he is never bored with himself.
However, in their pure form, these two types are quite rare. Therefore, they are so noticeable that no testing is needed to determine who is in front of you - an introvert or an extrovert. But there is also a third type.
Ambiverts
If we translate this term from Latin, then the ambivert will be something like “two-sided” or “shape-shifter”. Sometimes this type includes people with mild extrovert and introvetric traits. This is not entirely correct - the characteristic features of both types are manifested quite clearly.
In one situation, an ambivert may behave like an introvert, in another, like an extrovert. This is a kind of chameleon with a changing type of behavior, emotionality and sociability. Despite this fickleness (or perhaps because of it), people of this type get along well and adapt in any social environment or alone.
In a pleasant company and in the mood, ambiverts can be sociable, incendiary, and cheerful. However, even in solitude, they will always find a business for themselves. They love to engage in self-education and creativity and are not alien to the public demonstration of their talents.
Ambivert is:
- a successful writer organizing a presentation of his book and surrounded by a crowd of fans;
- a scientist giving a brilliant report on the results of many years of research;
- a teacher who lectures emotionally and artistically and demonstrates deep knowledge in various fields of science.
Yes, an ambivert is able to enjoy success and willingly works in a team, but he never rushes to lead it, and success is his personal achievement. A person of this type can become the "soul" of the party (or can just sit in a corner as an observer), but will never initiate it. Different people perceive representatives of this type in completely different ways, sometimes it seems that we are talking about completely different personalities.
Thus, the following personal characteristics are inherent in the ambivert:
- versatility, complexity of personality;
- quick transitions from activity to brooding passivity;
- equally comfortable perception of the crowd and loneliness;
- flexibility of mind and behavior;
- the ability to adapt to changing conditions.
That is, the ambivert, although it combines the features of an introvert and an extrovert, is not something in between. These people do not fit the definition of "average" at all; most likely, they are really bilateral, more precisely, even multilateral.
Reasons for type differences
Each of the described psychological types (especially for extroverts and introverts) has not only positive, but also negative sides that we would like to get rid of. For example, the gloominess, isolation and selfishness of introverts and excessive sociability, obsession and aggressiveness of extroverts. How are these types formed? Or is upbringing to blame for everything, and with the right approach, ambiverts can be raised from all children?
Even K. Jung wrote that the traits of introverts and extroverts are innate. Later, psychophysiologists and psychologists proved that the characteristics of the behavior of these types are associated with the originality of higher nervous activity, primarily with such an indicator as the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system.
- Extroverts have strong and stable processes of excitation of nerve cells. This allows them to maintain high activity and emotionality for a long time. To feed their nervous system, they need a constant influx of information from the outside, primarily emotional and sensual.
- Introverts have more pronounced inhibition processes. The suppression of arousal leads to lethargy, detachment, coldness. An excess of external information that their brains are unable to quickly process causes irritation and fatigue.
- But among ambiverts, the processes of excitation and inhibition are not only equally strong, but also in balance. And thanks to the mobile nervous system, a high level of excitement can quickly be replaced by an equally strong inhibition.
The strength of arousal and the speed of the course of nervous processes affect the speed of reactions, and the level of sociability, and the brightness of emotions. That is, correct upbringing can smooth out the extreme manifestations of types that interfere with living in society, but it is impossible to completely "re-educate" an introvert and an extrovert. And it is undesirable, since this can lead to disruption of the psyche.
Yes, the grounds for the formation of these mental types are of an innate neurophysiological nature, but if you have found the features of an extrovert or an introvert in yourself, then there is nothing terrible or unpleasant in this - the world is rich in its diversity. Success in our lives, as well as happiness, is available to both introverts and extroverts. Only they go to them in different ways.
This is one of the popular topics, and every year I include it in the Summer Study program at. Let's figure it out.
In the communication of psychologists, we often hear: "He is an introvert" or "This is an extrovert!" What is it about?
In popular literature, the issue has long been resolved in the most primitive way: extroverts are called sociable people with a strong nervous system, and the beautiful title "introvert" was given to people who are uncommunicative, withdrawn people with a weak nervous system, immersed in the world of experiences. This is a combination of three factors: sociability - isolation, strength - weakness of the nervous system and a person's turning inward, into his inner world - as opposed to turning (direction, aspiration) outward, into the outer world.
Compare the Cattell factor A (withdrawal-sociability) questions with the popular questionnaires that measure your introversion-extraversion.
"Intro" - inside. "Extra" - outward. "Version" - orientation, aspiration, appeal.
An extrovert may have a rich inner world, but he will only deal with it to the extent that he needs it for something in the outer world. In choosing to be alone or to chat, he will rather choose to chat. If there is a choice to "think" or "do", he will prefer to do. If you need to think, he will think, but only to the extent necessary for making a decision and action. The extrovert is not inclined to the reflection: "If I dig the ground, I dig the ground!" He teaches himself to think in order to do, and is attentive to feelings to the extent that it helps to orientate in life. To be immersed in experiences for too long - no, this is not his. Life, people, what is happening around him - the real circle of his interests.
An introvert is different. When answering popular test questions, an introvert recognizes himself in the following description:
I like to be alone and with familiar people, preferably in peace and quiet, when you don't need to do anything quickly, here I rest and gain strength. I don't like being around people, especially in new and noisy companies, in a stressful situation and when something is urgently required of me.
Difficult, causes fatigue and irritation before braking and passing out.
After social events, I feel devastated, even though I felt good.
I can disconnect if too many things happen.
I feel anxious when the project deadline is tight and I can't relax.
I don't like interrupting others and I don't like being interrupted.
I usually need to think before I react or say anything.
Sometimes I feel empty in my head when I meet people or when I am unexpectedly asked to say something.
This is a person with communication problems, does not tolerate stress and excitement. Everything new is perceived by him as discomfort, causes protest and fatigue.
I often think with horror about the need to make a return phone call.
I don't like overly stimulating surroundings.
I have no idea why people go to watch horror movies or ride a roller coaster.
In general, I prefer to listen rather than speak.
As a result, in popular literature, the concept of "introvert" is understood very simply: it is simply a person who is uncommunicative, does not like to communicate or has difficulty in communicating. And that's all.
It would seem that everything is clear, but people who are not introverts are often called introverts. A completely extroverted child may be uncommunicative and avoid company due to shyness and cowardice, but in order not to offend him, for reasons of political correctness, they prefer to call such children a worthy name "introvert". In psychotherapeutic practice, the concept of "introvert" is used as a calming explanation for uncommunicability: "this is your natural feature associated with the wealth of your inner world," especially since in many tests the introvert is interpreted as a person who is deeper and more thoughtful than an extrovert. Let's say right away that there is no reason for this, thoughtful and deep people are found among both introverts and extroverts.
You need to know that the history of the terms "introvert" and "extrovert" is complex and confusing, and at the present time different experts put into these words significantly different content.
You can often hear that introvert and extrovert are innate qualities, but such views do not have scientific evidence. And most importantly, until the researchers agree on what content they put into the concept of Introvert and Extrovert, no research can be carried out. Today, while different researchers understand these words each in their own way or do not define them at all, this topic is outside of serious science.
Most normal people are sometime extroverts and sometime introverts. As a rule, any of us is quite an extrovert in comfortable live communication, but problem situations that require difficult thinking immerse us in ourselves and make us introverts. Solving everyday problems, we are extroverts, but as soon as we fly into dreams, we are already typical introverts. The more problems a person has and the more often he goes into daydreaming, the more he becomes an introvert ...
If we want to be based on something solid, reliable, phenomenological descriptions of inner experiences will not help us, we need external, observable signs. Are they in this case? It is not always easy to distinguish an introvert from an extrovert by external signs: only the problematic introvert and the problematic extrovert differ confidently. One of the signs by which outwardly you can distinguish an extrovert from an introvert is a look that looks directly at the interlocutor, and not past and not into oneself. Compared to introverts, extroverts tend to be simpler, more practical, and less likely to worry. Immersed in oneself, the introvert seems to slow down a little, the extrovert is more active, the problematic extroverts act thoughtlessly and impulsively. As a rule, extroverts are more open, they look people in the eyes more often, and it is easier to establish contact. When listening to a partner, extroverts do not tend to complicate things and come up with "what is behind this word, that look and that intonation": they hear what they are told. They are more expressive and not difficult to express feelings.
The division into introverted-extroverts makes sense only in the case of obvious personal pathology. Mentally healthy and developed people are usually ambiverts, that is, they combine traits of both types and do not fit this division. The division of people into introverts-extroverts is not used as confusing, unnecessary and not working.
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