Introversion and extroversion

The terms introvert and extrovert (spelled extravert by Carl Jung who initially identified these personality types) reveal how a person orients and receives their energy.

Origin and definition of terms

One of Jung's most important discoveries was the realization that by understanding the way we typically process information, we can gain insights into why we act and feel the way we do. Jung identified two personality types that he termed "extravert," later spelled "extrovert," and "introvert."

In Jung's original usage, the extrovert orientation finds meaning outside the self, preferring the external world of objects, people, and activities. Extroverts tend to be energetic, enthusiastic, action-oriented, talkative, and assertive. Therefore, an extroverted person is likely to enjoy time spent with people and find less reward in time spent alone. Extroverts are actually energized by being with people and become tired and bored when they have to spend long periods of time alone.

The introvert is introspective and finds meaning within, preferring their internal world of thoughts, feelings, fantasies, and dreams. Introverts tend to be quiet, low-key, deliberate, and disengaged from the social world. Thus, one who is introverted is more likely to spend time alone or in contemplation, as these activities are rewarding. They may avoid social situations entirely, not because they are shy or misanthropic, but because they choose to. Introverts often enjoy long, conversations one-on-one about feelings or ideas, and may give excellent public presentations to large audiences. However, they find solitude, alone with their thoughts, nourishing and restorative. "Introverts are people who find other people tiring" (Rauch, 2003).

Jung believed that the two opposing attitudes of extroversion and introversion are both present in each persion. However, one is dominant and conscious, while the other is subordinate and unconscious. Thus, in Jung's Analytical model of personality, if the ego is predominantly extroverted in its relation to the world, the personal unconscious will be introverted. Jung also believed that the subordinate attitude compensates for any weakness of the other. For example, the dreams of a predominantly introverted person will tend to be extroverted, whereas those of an extrovert have an introverted quality.

Determining Factors

Both environmental and genetic factors have been shown to determine personality traits, including introversion/extroversion (Triandis & Suh, 2002). Significant in Jung's theory is that these "type preferences" are inborn and not socially constructed through interaction with parents, family, culture, or other external influences. Even so, the individual is impacted by such influences in the quality and strength of the development in her or his preferences. Nature and nurture are both at play. A supportive environment will facilitate inborn preference development; a contrary environment will impede or retard the natural development of inborn preferences. In terms of such environmental influences, the shared family environment appears to be far less important than individual environmental factors (not shared by siblings) (Tellegen et al, 1988). Cross-cultural research indicates that basic personality traits, including introversion/extroversion, may be independent of culture, although expressed differently in different cultures (McCrae, 2002).

Since introverts generally outperform extroverts on tasks that require focused concentration in situations where there is little stimulation, whereas extroverts do better in taks that require attending to many stimuli in an arousing environment, it has been suggested that the brains of introverts and extroverts function differently. Hans Eysenck proposed that introverts are characterized by higher levels of cortical activity than extroverts, leading them to avoid highly stimulating situations. Extroverts, on the other hand, would seek greater external stimulation to achieve optimal levels of cortical arousal.

Evidence supports a connection between brain activity and the introversion/extroversion dichotomy. Introverts have been found to show more activity in the frontal lobes of the brain, which are involved in internal processing such as remembering, problem solving, and planing, whereas extroverts show greater activity in areas involved in sensory processing, and visual and auditory perception (Garcia, 1999). Other evidence of this “stimulation” hypothesis is that introverts are less tolerant of painful electric shock, show greater physiological response to a sudden noise, and their performance on a learning task is more affected by a distracting noise when compared to extroverts (Gray, 2001). However, the causal relationship between brain activity and introversion/extroversion is not clear. The differences in brain activity may cause the differences in personality, or the person's tendency to introversion/extroversion may manifest itself in brain activity, or there may be some complex interaction between the two.

Application

Personality assessment

The introversion/extroversion dichotomy has featured in many theories of personality such as Eyesenck's P-E-N three factors and the "Big Five" traits, and the tests designed to measure them. Katharine Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, found Jung's Analytical theory of introvert/extrovert types and four functions (thinking, feeling, sensing, and intuiting) of processing information so revealing of people's personalities that they developed a paper-and-pencil test to measure these traits. Called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), their test became one of the most popular, and most studied, personality tests in the twentieth century. This test has been used to great effect in the areas of pedagogy, group dynamics, guidance counseling, leadership training, marriage counseling, and personal development.

While most people view being either introverted or extroverted as a question with only two answers, the reality is that this is probably more of a scale, with people falling on both ends and in between. The term ambivert was coined to denote people who fall more or less directly in the middle and exhibit tendencies of both groups. An ambivert is normally comfortable with groups and enjoys social interaction, but also relishes time alone and away from the crowd. Ambiverts tend to be moderate thinkers and weigh more than one side to an issue. Most have warm but controlled personalities.

In American society it is generally seen as more of a positive quality to lean towards being extrovert rather than introvert. Most people who consider themselves introverts usually steer clear of the word when describing themselves e.g., at a job interview, because they think people will see them as eccentric and different. People who see themselves as extroverts however, will gladly use this word in a description of themselves thinking most people will consider it a positive quality. Extroverts make up about 75% of the American population, while approximately 25% are introverted (Laney 2002). There is some social bias toward expressiveness in American social life, but reserved persons have no reason to feel that there is anything wrong with them; they prefer interacting to one or two people at a time, rather than being in a crowd, and should be sure to provide adequately for their legitimate desire for quiet time to themselves.

Interpersonal relationships

Differences in introversion and extroversion can potentially result in interpersonal conflict. Introverts and extroverts use different strategies for coping with stress. The extrovert will want to go out socializing or shopping while the introvert will want peace and solitude. With a lack of self awareness, their interactions with each other may cause the extrovert to feel rejected while the introvert may feel imposed upon (Rauch, 2003). Understanding type differences can increase one's self-awareness and help to create more cooperative and harmonious relationships.

Acknowledging that introversion and extroversion are normal variants of behaviour can help in self-acceptance and understanding of others. For example, an extrovert can accept his introverted partner’s need for space while an introvert can acknowledge her extroverted partner’s need for social interaction.

Social psychologist David Myers found a correlation between extroversion and happiness; that is, more extroverted people reported higher levels of personal happiness[5]. The causality is not clear: it is not known if extroversion leads to greater happiness, happier people become more extroverted, or there is some other factor such as social status that affects both. Introverts may have advantages when it comes to long-term memory and problem solving [6].

Commentators such as Jonathan Rauch have observed that extroversion tends to be seen as normal and desirable in Western and particularly US society, and that introverts can be viewed as antisocial and arrogant[7]. This may not be true in other societies, for example Japanese culture places value on quietness and self-control.

Career counsellors often use personality traits, along with other factors such as skill and interest, to advise their clients[8]. Some careers such as computer programming may be more satisfying for an introverted temperament, while other areas such as sales may be more agreeable to the extroverted type.

Although neither introversion nor extroversion is pathological, psychotherapists can take temperament into account when treating clients. Clients may respond better to different types of treatment depending on where they fall on the introversion/extroversion spectrum. Teachers can also consider temperament when dealing with their pupils, for example acknowledging that introverted children need more encouragement to speak in class while extroverted children may grow restless during long periods of quiet study.

Critique

The introversion/extroversion personality dichotomy has proved one of the most popular and well-researched aspect of personality theories. However, David Keirsey, who created the Keirsey-Bates Temperament Sorter, believes that introversion/extroversion is the least useful in understanding people and predicting their behavior. In his view, the "Sensing" versus "Intuiting," "Thinking" versus "Feeling," and "Judging" versus "Perceiving" typologies are significantly more useful (Kiersey, 1998). He concludes that it is only because extraverts and extreme introverts are easy to spot, that this distinction has been considered to be so important.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Garcia, T. 1999. Brain activity indicates introverts or extroverts. News in Science, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. April 6, 1999.
• Gray, Peter. 2001. Psychology Fourth edition. Worth Publishers. ISBN 0716751623
• Hall, Calvin S., Gardner Lindzey, and John B. Campbell. 1997. Theories of Personality Fourth edition. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0471303429
• Keirsey, David (1998). Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence. Prometheus Nemesis Book Co Inc; 1st ed edition. ISBN 1885705026.
• Laney, Marti Olsen. 2002. The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World. Workman Publishing Company. ISBN 0761123695.
• McCrae, Robert R. 2002. "Cross-cultural research on the five-factor model of personality." In Lonner, W.J., et.al. (Eds.) Online Readings in Psychology and Culture. Bellingham, WA: Western Washington University.
• Myers, David G. 1992. The Secrets of Happiness Psychology Today. March, 1992.
• Rauch, Jonathan. 2003. Caring for Your Introvert: The Habits and Needs of a Little-understood Group in Atlantic Monthly March, 2003.
• Tellegen, Auke, Lykken,David T., Bouchard, Thomas J., Jr., Wilcox, Kimerly J., Segal, Nancy L., Rich, Stephen. 1988. Personality Similarity in Twins Reared Apart and Together. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1988. Vol. 54, no. 6. 1031-1039.
• Triandis, Harry C. and E.M. Suh. 2002. "Cultural Influences on Personality" in Annual Review of Psychology, 53:133-160.
• Van Mourik, Orli. 2006. The Introvert Advantage NYU Journalism February 26, 2006.

Additional Reading

• Jung, C. G., & Hull, R. F. C. 1992. Psychological Types (a revised ed.). London: Routlege. ISBN 0415071771.
• Myers, Isabel Briggs; McCaulley, Mary H.; Quenk, Naomi L.; Hammer, Allen L. (1998). MBTI Manual (A guide to the development and use of the Myers Briggs type indicator). Consulting Psychologists Press; 3rd ed edition. ISBN 0891061304.

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