We usually sort ourselves into extroverts or introverts, but the world isn't made up of just two kinds of people — extroversion and introversion aren't a binary; they're a spectrum. Most people's personalities turn out to fall somewhere in between extroversion and introversion, with the traits of both sides shared fairly evenly. People like this are described as having a middle / blended personality (Ambiversion). Among the Big Five personality traits in psychology, Extroversion—Introversion (Extroversion-Introversion) is one facet of personality, first proposed by the Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist Carl Jung.
The Bias Against Extroverts
"You're so outgoing and talkative! Crack a few jokes and liven the place up!"
The stereotype people hold of extroverts is that they're cheerful, energetic and chatty! In fact, being extroverted doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with being talkative. Beyond conversation, there's actually much more that draws them outward — the things in the outside world that spark their interest, such as all kinds of sports. Some people also misread extroverts as facing fewer negative emotions than introverts. Extroversion and introversion are just one facet of personality; they aren't enough to dictate someone's true psychological state, such as confidence or low self-worth. Most people assume extroverts are more confident than introverts, which is why they'd be more "sociable". In reality, self-confidence isn't a psychological state that comes built into an extroverted personality — it's a mindset built up over time and through experience as a person grows. An extroverted personality does help with cultivating confidence, but confidence and low self-worth have no direct connection to whether someone is extroverted or introverted.
The Bias Against Introverts
"So-and-so never turns up to gatherings; people who fade into the background often get overlooked! The loner who doesn't fit in is bound to be left behind sooner or later!"
Since ancient times, humans have lived in groups, so taking part in group activities is naturally seen as "normal", while breaking away from the group is seen as "abnormal". Introverts (introverts) usually avoid taking part in group activities and aren't in the habit of speaking up; communicating little with others can make people wonder whether they're poor with language, or even weak at getting things done, self-centred, and so on. But in fact, none of the above is a direct sign of being an introvert. Personality is not the same as ability. The reason they don't want to join group activities is that being alone gives them more energy, and speaking little may simply be that they don't want to spend too much energy interacting with others — not that their language or work abilities are poor.
The Main Differences Between Extroversion and Introversion
Source of Energy — How They Recharge (Charging Up)
Extroverts — they gain energy through taking part in all sorts of social activities and mixing with all kinds of people
Introverts — they gain energy in their own inner world, through reflection and by sorting through their emotions
Response to Stimulation
Extroverts — on their own there is less stimulation, so they need things from the outside world (various activities and settings) to stimulate them
Introverts — they have a higher level of inner activity and are more easily affected by outside stimulation (such as a crowded, noisy environment), and they will feel tense and uneasy
How They Perceive Depth and Breadth
Extroverts — they value breadth, leaning towards many wide-ranging fresh experiences, wanting to come into contact with many different people and things
Introverts — they value depth, leaning towards understanding a single thing or problem in depth, not wanting to take in too much outside information at once
If you want to know where you fall on the introversion–extroversion scale, you can use the Big Five personality test (Big Five Inventory, BFI) to measure it
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Extroversion and Introversion
Extroverts always come across as energetic, with wide-ranging knowledge and a broad network, and they often become the central figure in a group. At work, they're more active in seeking out opportunities, show enthusiasm for team tasks and have stronger drive — all traits that give extroverts a real advantage in the workplace. But extroverts have their shortcomings too: sometimes they act without thinking, inadvertently offend others, or spend too much time taking part in various activities. These are the difficulties extroverts need to overcome.
Introverts, on the other hand, come across as quiet and shy; they aren't keen on social activities and prefer to enjoy their own time, finding contentment in many still or active pursuits alike. At work, they tend to be more careful, thinking things through before acting, and they can settle down to do quiet, focused work — these too are very important traits in the workplace.
The human mind is enormously complex, so not every choice of action can be explained by an extroverted or introverted personality. Whether a person leans extroverted or introverted, interpersonal relationships are a hugely important part of life — from family, school and romantic relationships to the workplace, our ability to relate to others has no small influence over a lifetime.
Introverts sometimes lose out because they don't put themselves forward actively enough, and miss opportunities because they aren't good at socialising. So building relationships and growing a personal network are just as important for extroverts and introverts alike!
References
Jung, C. G. (1910). The association method. The American journal of psychology, 21(2), 219-269.
Jung, C. G. (1923). On The Relation Of Analytical Psychology To Poetic Art 1. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 3(3), 213-231.
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