There are distinctive traits which can help you identify whether you are an introvert or an extrovert.
What Are the Differences Between an Introvert and an Extrovert?
| Introvert | Extrovert |
|---|---|
| Need alone time to recharge | Feel energized when surrounded by people |
| Prefer meaningful conversations to small talk | Are good conversationalists, can have lively conversations even with strangers |
| Enjoy solitude | Get bored and anxious if left alone for a long time |
| Will contemplate their thoughts and make sense of them for themselves before sharing | Like to verbalize their thoughts and brainstorm with others |
How are Introvert and Extrovert different?
Psychologist Hans Eysenck, in the 1960s, suggested that extroverts have lower level of arousal than introverts. This means that introverts feel overstimulated by things that are merely engaging for their extroverted counterparts.Thus, they tend to get drained after interacting with people for a long time and seek alone time to recharge their energy level.
For extroverts, it is harder to become stimulated by activities that introverts tend to find exciting and pleasant. Hence, they require more engaging activities to keep themselves from feeling bored.
According to a research led by Michael Cohen in 2005, the way our brains respond to the ‘feel-good’ chemical, dopamine, defines whether we are introverted or extroverted.
The research suggested that extroverts have a more active dopamine reward network. This means that they react more strongly to stimulation and thus seek more of it.
It has been established that introverts are the quiet ones who prefer staying home and snuggling up with a good book or watching their favorite show to going out and mingle with friends. They are usually mistaken as antisocial or reclusive.
Whereas it is assumed that extroverts are renowned party people who are always ready for a night out.
“But we know that it is not as simple.”
Many people feel like they do not belong to either because they do not completely relate to either.
Well, there is a term for that too.
Ambivert
Do you feel like you are never sure whether you are introverted or extroverted because you resonate with both personalities? Then, ambivert is the word you are looking for.
Ambiverts find a middle ground between these two ends.
According to Carl Jung, none of us can be completely introverted or extroverted. People cannot be really categorized as only one of the two.
Introversion and extroversion are the two ends of a spectrum and we exist within the spectrum. It is a matter of where you fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. Most of us tend to fall somewhere in the middle.
Ambiverts also fall in the middle of the spectrum.They can be social butterflies, but sometimes they choose to be alone with their thoughts. After a period of self-reflection, they might want to be around their friends to share their thoughts.
Introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, one is not better than the other and we do no have to let these labels define us.