Introvert and extrovert: what are the differences?

[Lord777]

All people are different. Moreover, they are divided into introverts and extroverts. I must say that extroverts and introverts, although opposite, but healthy personality types. In general, it is rather difficult to meet "pure" introverts or extroverts, because people combine traits of both types.

It is believed that the extrovert (translated from English means "facing outward"), has a cheerful and easy character. However, in reality this is not the case. The fact is that all the attention of the extrovert is always directed outside his personality. Or, in other words, an extrovert must necessarily communicate with other people in order to exist normally. Communicating with other people, the extrovert seems to be "charged".

The extrovert simply "loves" telling everyone stories and being the center of attention. He has more than enough energy. Therefore, after having just finished the fun or party, the extrovert may go somewhere else to have fun. Extroverts quickly find a common language with people, however, they part with such people rather quickly.

An extrovert doesn't have to read books or watch TV. For him, the main thing is communication. That is why in the team he is considered a leader and his opinion is always taken into account. Such people are proud. It is enough for them to simply achieve a little success, as the extrovert will certainly expose this achievement to the public. In addition, he deliberately exaggerates an undesirable quality of character, while pretending that this quality completely suits him.

In contrast to the extrovert, you can oppose the introvert, ie a person "turned inward." I must say that introverts are not necessarily closed people, which people usually say that a person is "out of this world." It's just that he is always fixated on himself.

Such people are very fond of listening, but getting them to talk is a whole problem. If the extrovert goes after the party to seek further adventure, the introvert goes home and rejoices that the party is over. It is very difficult for introverts to get to know other people, but they also break off relationships less often and harder.

An introvert is a person of fantasy, books and dreams. Nevertheless, he does not like to communicate with other people, considering it a certain form of duty. Introverts are a bit infantile, such people usually cannot get things done and make a career. If it so happens that an introvert has become a leader, then he will be a real "gray eminence".

It must be said that the vast majority of middle managers are extroverts. But introverts are trusted to work with various objects. they are more successful in this matter.

 

[CarderPlanet]

Extrovert? Introvert? Ambivert!
They love to be in a company, but do not mind sitting at home with a book in the evening. They do not like to be in the spotlight for a long time, but they can willingly support small talk. They are ambiverts. And perhaps there are not so few of them among us ...
Most psychological tests for introversion / extraversion do not so much help us understand ourselves as they offer us to take one of two sides. Even if, when answering questions, we constantly hesitated in one direction or the other, as a result we will still be ranked either among the “outsiders” or among the “insiders”.
If we were classified as the first, it is understandable that we are lovers of fun, outdoor activities, risk and a quick change of activity. If to the second - we simply have to be careful, self-sufficient and hardworking silent. But what if our sense of self doesn't fit into any of these images?
In this case, we can rather be attributed to ambiverts (from the Latin ambi - "on both sides") - people in whom traits of both types are present to one degree or another. Or rather - who can manifest themselves in different ways depending on the situation and environment.

Middle way
What allows us to call one person an extrovert and another introvert? Psychologist Marty Laney believes that the main difference is in the way we replenish energy. Extroverts feed on communication with other people and new experiences, while introverts need peace, silence and solitude to recover. But in fact, this division is very conditional, and many of us, to one degree or another, need both.
Even Carl Gustav Jung himself, the author of the concepts of "extrovert" and "introvert", implied an intermediate position between them
In The Benefits of Introverts, Laney suggests talking about extroversion and introversion as two ends of a single energy continuum. If you liken it to a color temperature scale, where extreme introversion corresponds to blue and extroversion to red, somewhere in the middle, among the shades of yellow and green, there are those who can be called ambiverts.
Carl Gustav Jung himself, the author of the concepts of "extrovert" and "introvert", meant an intermediate position between them. The person who belongs to this position “is influenced both from the outside and from the inside. It constitutes a large middle group, on one side of which are placed those whose motivations are determined mainly by an external object, and on the other those whose motivations are formed from within. "In addition, Jung believed that extreme attitudes are somewhat smoothed out as we adapt to the requirements of society.

Ideal sellers
The rhythm of the modern world favors extroverts. At least we are used to thinking that way. Motivation books and success stories most often cite the fate of open, brash, and charismatic leaders like Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple. However, expansive behavior does not always play into the hands of such people.
Psychologist Daniel Pink in his latest book "Selling Is Natural for Us" cites data from a survey of European and American buyers. Among the most annoying traits in the behavior of salespeople, most of them named excessive persistence, annoyance and assertiveness.
Psychologist Adam Grant, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, found that in the sales area, strongly extroverted extroverts (as well as their antipodes), on average, show an average level of achievement. Grant tested vendors at a software company on an extraversion-introversion scale (1 to 7, with 1 being strong introverts and 7 being strong extroverts) and then tracking their progress for 3 months. Introverts performed worse than others - they earned an average of $ 120 an hour. But the extroverts' rates were only slightly higher - $ 125 per hour. Those who got between 3 and 5 on the test were the best at the job, earning $ 155 an hour.
Ambiverts are more likely to succeed due to their ability to relate their actions to other people and the context in which they find themselves.
According to Grant, the key quality that ensured their success is “the ability to address different behaviors” to find a balance between the desire to sell a product and the desire to help the buyer make their own choice. This description is very close to the concept of "attunement", which Daniel Pink described as "the ability to relate your actions and plans to other people and to the context in which you are located." Pink believes that it is attunement that allows us to effectively communicate our ideas to others and - ultimately - convinces them to believe us.

The art of balance
So, it seems that it is ambiverts who are in demand where flexibility and the ability to find an approach to people are needed. Their key characteristic is the desire to find a balance between stimulation from the inside and from the outside. The main thing for them is not the quantity, but the quality of social ties. And this is precisely their greatest strength.
“It seems to me that we care too much about how to pull more people into our 'nets',” says psychologist Susan Kane. "But even a relatively small network of strong contacts can sometimes be more useful than the most voluminous filing cabinet." The main thing for ambiverts, in her opinion, is to realize the limit of their capabilities and not try to ignore their need to recharge.
“If you consistently show extroversion with others, they will expect this behavior from you at any time,” Kane continues. - Ambiversion is a great gift. It is important to know what pace of functioning is best for you and to structure your life as an alternation of periods of activity and recovery in a calm environment. When dealing with other people, you should not be afraid to draw boundaries. You can say, for example: "Right now I need to concentrate and be alone, but I will be glad to see you at breakfast and continue the conversation."