Introvert Vs. Extrovert: Understanding Your Personality

Introvert & Extrovert Meaning

The interest in introversion and extraversion has a base from the psychoanalysis Carl Jung, who coined the term in 1921. Since then, with the help of Myers Briggs, there has been increased popularity of learning about introversion and extraversion personality traits. Introversion is a personality trait that describes how an individual engages in social encounters. Some traits of people who are introverted are that they need quiet time and space to recoup from social engagements, while a person who is extroverted feels energized by social engagements, is outgoing, and oftentimes seeks further engagement from groups.¹

What Is an Introverted Personality?

Introversion is often used to describe personality types that are characterized by a preference for quiet environments and that prefer introspection and engaging in activities that require solitary activities. These solitary activities could include reading, creating, writing, and engaging in activities alone. Oftentimes, for introverted personalities, social engagement may cause a feeling of having a “drained” social battery and would require solitary engagement to “recharge” their social battery.

Traits of an Introverted Personality

The defining traits of those with introverted personalities are individuals who have a preference for spending time engaged in solitary activities and often need to receive a moment to recharge their social battery after socializing or a larger group event. Introverts are usually contemplative, natural listeners, and prefer solitude engagements.¹ In addition to these traits, other traits of introverted personalities include.

Traits of introverted personalities include:

• Natural Listeners
• Enjoy alone time
• Feeling energized by solitude
• Introspective
• Contemplative
• Tendency for solitude engagements
• Possibly preference in solitary environments (i.e., nature, library)
• Prone to solitary engagements
• Regains social battery from solitude.
• Prone to develop a more in-depth understanding of topics that interest them.
• Stimuli sensitivity

Positive Perceptions of an Introverted Personality

There are many positive traits of an introverted personality, and there is a spectrum of introversion in everyone that makes them unique. Introverted people allocate their cognitive abilities to observation, introspection, and the perception of things in their surroundings. Introverts utilize these skills to help them engage in the depth of their interest and are great listeners, contemplative, and require some time to recharge their social battery.

Negative Perceptions of an Introverted Personality

The faults of introverted personalities are based on misconceptions of introverted living in solitude or being quiet or isolated.² There is a general misconception that introverts are not social, whereas, in fact, introverts can be social and talkative.

What Is an Extroverted Personality?

Extraversion, in contrast with introverted personalities, is usually outgoing, obtaining energy from being around people, creating conversation, and participating in many group activities. Extraverts are high-energy in social environments and engage in activities with others.³ They benefit from the engagement from other people in contrast with introverts who need time alone to recharge from social engagements. In addition, it is important to note that extraversion is also on a spectrum of displayed characteristics and varies by everyone.

Traits of an Extroverted Personality

Extroverts are considered to many as energized by social engagement, the social butterfly in the friend group, and often are enthusiastic, talkative, and outgoing in social settings. Extroverts are individuals who are often seen in social gatherings and lively in conversation and engagement. These extroverted individuals thrive in social environments and groups and often obtain energy from the social setting.

Traits of extraverted personalities include:

• Make friends easily
• Impulsive
• Engaged in conversation.
• Talkative
• Outgoing
• Socially engaged
• Thrives in group settings
• Boisterous

Positive Perceptions of an Extroverted Personality

Extraverts are often commented on as being “the social butterfly” and are often seen in group settings, in leadership opportunities or positions, and are able to engage in different social settings and are malleable in each social engagement.⁴ Extraverts are often talkative, engaged, are reenergized by social engagements, and thrive in social settings.

Negative Perceptions of an Extroverted Personality

Although there are many positive attributes to an extroverted personality, there are negative attributes that are often considered faults of the perceiving personality. One of which is that some find it difficult to deal with solitude. While our introverted personalities have a preference for this, extroverted individuals have difficulty in navigating solitude engagement without others. It’s important to remember that extroverts thrive in social environments and are difficult to maintain in solitude. In addition to that, extroverts are well versed in conversation and can, at times, be seen as a negative trait if some extroverts dominate the conversation and do not listen to others or allow others to engage in the conversation as well. It is important to note that extraversion is on a larger spectrum of traits and dominant traits that make each individual unique.

Key Differences in Introverts Vs. Extroverts

The main difference between introverts and extroverts is where they attain their social battery. Introverts can be outgoing, talkative, and have a great community of friends, but they do require moments alone to recharge their batteries. In contrast, extroverts attain their social energy and engagement through the environment of social engagement and interaction. Many extroverts thrive in environments that are involved with social engagement.

The table below compares the key differences between introverts and extroverts:

Introverts	Extroverts
Refreshed after spending time alone	Refreshed after spending time with others
Internally process thoughts and feelings before reacting	Process thoughts and feelings with others immediately
Better listener	More of a talker
Prefers solitary activities	Social Butterfly
Introspective	Engaged by others
Contemplative	Spontaneous

What Is an Ambivert?

Ambivert is within the spectrum of both extroverts and introverts. Ambiverts are often presented in people with different parts of the two personalities.  Ambiverts have an interchangeability between social engagement and energy output and input. Some ambiverts benefit from social engagement, while others’ behavior depends on the state of mood or behavior that suits that situation. Personality types give a broad range of insight to unique aspects of people, there are traits that exhibit similarly across the broad range of personality types.

Introversion Vs. Extroversion in the Workplace

When it comes to a career, it is important to be mindful of where individuals attain more fulfillment and enjoyment in all multifaceted layers of their employment and workplace. For introverts, it may be important for their work environment to allocate time where they focus on their work and be able to recharge in their cubicle or benefit from a work environment (Chauhan & Chauhan, 2006). On the other hand, extroverts thrive in social environments and can often be in positions where social engagement is rewarded and needed and can be involved in types of work that promote engagement and facilitate conversations with a wider range of individuals.

Introverts in the Workplace

Introverts engage with coworkers by allocating time and attention in providing full attention and engagement to their coworkers and often will need some time alone to recharge their social battery. It should be mindful for individuals with introverted personalities that large work events could possibly require time to recoup and to allocate time to complete work in a solitary area. With these analytical minds, you can see them in fields analyzing data such as data analysis, market research, psychology, philosophy, management consultation, and medical or scientific research.

Extroverts in the Workplace

Extroverts often thrive in an environment in which their personality benefits from the need for social engagement. Ideally, careers that involve the need for higher social engagement would be ideal for these personality types—such jobs as sales, PR, acting, and leadership roles in various organizations. Extroverts are the social butterfly of most workplaces and can pick up on social cues and engagements with other individuals and be a wonderful liaisons between different coworkers. They thrive in environments that highlight their strengths and benefit from their ability to adapt to different social groups.

A possible barrier for extroverted personality types is being able to listen to others and stay focused on one topic. Since many extroverts have a tendency to dominate conversations and not listen to others, they may jump to conclusions about how others think or feel without giving space for people to share their opinions. It could be possible that there are fluctuations in their ability to respond to certain things. For someone with an extroverted personality, it is important to be aware that you are giving enough space for others who normally do not speak up in meetings or conversations and are also attentive to their needs and hone in on their listening skills rather than quickly responding.

Introverts Vs. Extroverts in Relationships

There are some key differences between introverted and extroverted people in relationships.

These differences include:

Introverts in Relationships

To be in a relationship with an introvert, a partner will need to be aware that they would enjoy some time alone and be alone with their partner doing some fun activities. They are often seen in other social engagements, and it does not deprive them of engaging them. Introverts need further support in recharging their social battery, which often looks like spending time at home, reading a book, or binge-watching a new show. An introverted personality in a relationship oftentimes will be an excellent listener and can mirror social energies with another introvert/extrovert/ambivert.  Being with an introverted partner is the ability to understand others’ need for personal space.

Extroverts in Relationships

To be in a relationship with an extrovert, a partner will need social events and gatherings with other friends, social events, and social engagement. Extroverts’ social battery runs on the engagement with others and has increased drive and need for social interactions. As a partner of an extrovert, you will find yourself in places of social engagement and various adventures or other outings. While it can be an adjustment of introverts and ambiverts to engage in these upticks of social engagements, it is important to also highlight the importance of engaging in open communication about which events to attend and when you are feeling low on your social battery as well. Ultimately, a relationship with an introvert + extrovert dynamic falls into the importance of open communication and mutual understanding of the other person’s needs.

Addressing Differences in Introverts Vs. Extroverts

Although there are striking differences between introverts and extroverts, there is neither inherently better than the other personality. It is important to highlight the other characteristics of an individual’s personality in addition to their introverted and extroverted ness. For example, introverted individuals are keen listeners and are introspective, oftentimes intuitive, and work in environments that benefit deep focus and can work alone and are independent in their work. On the other hand, extroverts are the social butterflies that thrive in social environments and oftentimes are seen in team collaboration and networking environments and oftentimes seen as the “life of the party.” The ability to manage both personality types is beneficial to various situations and can be an important skill to manage.

An introverted personality can better understand an extroverted personality by observing how extroverts work in social groups and can help improve an introverted natural inclination to speak to fewer people at social gatherings.

An extroverted individual is more open to speaking their ideas and is collaborative in their efforts in community engagement. Oftentimes, introverts are prone to independently problem solve and often would benefit from asking input from their colleagues or partners.

An introverted individual would benefit from freely speaking to others without the need of contemplative and inward thoughts before speaking in front of a group. An introvert may learn from observing an extrovert’s ability to hone in on other individuals’ ideas through conversation and group engagement.

An introvert may learn how to set reasonable expectations on how they are going to engage in social engagements. It would be important for an introverted individual to be mindful of how an extrovert engages with others and try in smaller increments to be able to seek social engagement that is outside of the norm.

An introvert would need to develop another strategy for learning how to recharge after a large social gathering. Perhaps taking smaller steps in social engagement so the introverted individual would not be overstimulated or overwhelmed by a large group of individuals.

Some ways that someone can manage their extroverted tendencies to meet the needs of an introverted-focused situation or a person include:

• Implementing stronger listening skills: it is important to encourage other individuals who do not take the role of speaking in front of others to make it a warm and friendly, and encouraging environment.
• Practice understanding and patience: Oftentimes, it is hard to put oneself in another person’s shoes. It is important to allow introverted individuals to think and reply in a contemplative manner.
• Respecting boundaries: It is important to allow introspective individuals to have their own space and approach to engagement, and it is important to respect personal boundaries in their way of engagement and their need to recharge their social battery.
• Understanding a different way of sharing information: Introverts need time to think and are very thorough in their thought process. It is important for them to give them space and a platform that caters to their needs.
• Becoming cognizant of stimuli: Oftentimes, introverts can feel drained by many social engagements. Please be mindful of their social battery and encourage space to regroup and recharge.

When to Seek Help

Seeking therapy is always a huge step. While both these personality types have their unique advantages, sometimes there are times when therapy will be helpful when dealing with difficulties related to these personality types. An extremely introverted individual may struggle with isolation and social anxiety, while an extroverted person might find it hard to modulate energy levels. Therapy is useful for navigating these complex feelings and encounters in your day to day. There are online therapy options that can make it easy to find someone who might be able to help. You can also browse an online therapy directory to find someone to talk to if you need help.

In My Experience

In my experience, many individuals present themselves on a spectrum of introverted and extroverted. I find that learning more about your personality traits can provide a meaningful experience in understanding oneself and how to engage in the world. It is important to help others understand your needs to withdraw or to socialize and to utilize therapy when some traits can become problematic in your day to day. I want to highlight the importance of understanding their natural tendencies and being aware of how to adapt to various situations as needed. If you need guidance on how to navigate these feelings, I highly encourage seeking therapy, which allows a safe space to process growth and implement an authentic space for self-reflection.