Introduction

In society we’re often categorised depending on how we interact with the world, with the adjectives extrovert and introvert. These terms were popularised by the psychologist Carl Gustav Jung as a way to explain personality. Extroversion and introversion are both on a single continuum, meaning that if you are more of one, you are less than the other. However, according to Jung, everyone has both an extroverted side and an introverted side, with one being more dominant than the other.

This post contains…

🔍 What is extroversion
🥁 What is introversion
🌸 Social and shy vs extrovert and introvert
🍬 Conclusion

Extroversion

According to Carl Jung extroversion is "an attitude-type characterised by concentration of interest on the external object". Meaning that extroverted people often seek social interaction and would rather be with other people than by themselves. Some common traits are liking attention, talking a lot, taking initiative in groups and feeling energised in crowds.

Introversion

On the other spectrum, introversion is "an attitude-type characterised by orientation in life through subjective psychic contents". Introverts don’t continuously seek social stimulation and like to recharge and reflect in quiet. Some characteristics of introverts are avoiding being the centre of attention, they like being by themselves and might not talk as much in groups.

Social and shy vs extrovert and introvert

An extrovert is just a person who recuperates or recharges by engaging in social activities, and although extroverted people are often sociable, and are normally more so than introverts, extroverted people can be shy when it comes to meeting new people or holding a conversation with a stranger.
On the contrary, an introvert, who recuperates during periods of solitude, can be a very social person. They might enjoy reading by themselves or watching movies with a close friend, but during a party they can mingle and converse with everyone.

Conclusion

Humans are complex and not a one-fits-all, and because introversion and extraversion varies along a spectrum, individuals may have a combination of the two orientations. People can learn to act in "counter dispositional" ways in certain circumstances being introverted in one situation and extraverted in another. Both conversations and solitude  play an important part in creativity and daily life. As a result, we require both alone time to reflect and social encounters to learn.