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.

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.

Causes

Hans Eysenck proposed that extroversion was caused by variability in cortical arousal; "introverts are characterized by higher levels of activity than extroverts and so are chronically more cortically aroused than extroverts". Because extroverts are less aroused internally, they require more external stimulation than introverts. This theory may be backed up by evidence that extroversion is tied to a gene that shapes the brain's response to dopamine. Other evidence of this “stimulation” hypothesis is that introverts are less tolerant of painful electric shock and salivate more than extroverts.

One study found that introverts have more blood flow in the frontal lobes of their brain and the anterior or front thalamus, which are areas dealing with internal processing such as remembering and problem solving. Extroverts have more blood flow in anterior cingulate gyrus, temporal lobes and posterior thalamus, which are involved in sensory processing such as listening and watching. It is difficult to determine the causal relationship in this case. 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.

The relative importance of nature versus environment in determining the level of introversion/extroversion is controversial and the focus of many studies. Twin studies find a genetic component of .39 to .58. In terms of the environmental component, the shared family environment appears to be far less important than individual environmental factors (not shared by siblings) (Tellegen et al, 1988).

Application

Personality assessment

Katharine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers found Jung's types and functions so revealing of people's personalities that they decided to develop a paper-and-pencil test called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which is one of the most popular, and most studied, tests around. The test is frequently used in the areas of pedagogy, group dynamics, employee training, leadership training, marriage counseling, and personal development. Another simpler version of the MBTI called the Keirsey Temperament Sorter was introduced in 1978 by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates. See the main article Personality Assessment for more details on the MBTI and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter and how the extrovert and introvert types interact with the other functions—sensing, intuition, thinking, feeling, judging, perceiving.

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. If an introvert and an extrovert in a relationship are both under stress each will use a different strategy of coping. 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. The stress reducing strategies for one will not work for the other. They may get caught in a type difference and may only see the other person as being demanding or resistive. Understanding type differences can increase one's self-awareness and help to create more cooperative and harmonious relationships.

Critique

David Keirsey, who created a modified version of the more well known MBTI called the Keirsey-Bates Temperament Sorter, disagreed with Jung's distinction between extraversion (E) and introversion (I) as the most important of his dimensions of personality. Keirsey thinks that the extroversion and introversion functions are the least useful in understanding people and predicting what they'll do. His view is that it is much less useful compared to S-N (Sensing-Intuiting), T-F (Thinking-Feeling), and J-P(Judging-Perceiving). He concludes that because extraverts and extreme introverts are easy to spot, that may be the reason the Jungians and the Myersians consider the concept to be so important.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• Garcia, T. 1999. Brain activity indicates introverts or extroverts. News in Science, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. April 6, 1999.
• Rauch, Jonathan. 2003. Caring for Your Introvert: The Habits and Needs of a Little-understood Group in Atlantic Monthly March, 2003.

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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