We all have different personalities, preferences, and feelings. The topic of introversion vs. extroversion is something we all know about on the surface. But do we really know about it in depth? We all know or have met the “very talkative and outgoing” guy or the “quiet and private” girl, or vice versa. The traits we see are not the only thing or backing an introvert or extrovert.
Either of the two find enjoyment in different things or it could even be the way they talk. It could also be more along the lines of tending to curl up in bed and spend time alone, or the complete opposite of going out and be energized by being around others.
Being an introvert or extrovert is nothing to be ashamed about, it’s just simply the traits your carry. It’s said that introversion/extroversion is most strongly found through heredity and genetics. We see the simple givens of pointing out an introvert vs. extrovert.
When we go deeper to find out more about each, extroverts are more open, tend to enjoy large groups, and conversations. While on the other hand introverts are more reserved, enjoy more one-on-one conversations, and tend to listen more.
There are many speculations stating that introverts aren’t as happy as extroverts, which is completely false. Though the qualities of each may not one hundred percent fit your exact personality that you have, and we see many introverts giving off extroverted behaviors, and vice-versa.
Although, it feels like everyone must belong to one of the two groups, some may not fit into one category and find themselves as being a combination of the two. Having both a mix of introversion and extroversion is called being ambivert. Ambiverts find qualities in both sides that are favorable or some that just come naturally to their personality. It’s said that 68 percent of population is made up of ambiverts.
Being an ambivert, there is a balance between two different sides, somewhat like being in the middle of the road. Personally, I identify as an ambivert. I enjoy conversations, going out, and I find that I am very outgoing. Yet on the other side, I enjoy lying in bed, taking a nap, or reading a book.
I find this alone time very enjoyable. It also helps me distress and recover mentally. Being a business major, I recall in one of my classes last semester, we were told to take The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
The test is a widely-used personality questionnaire that indicates different psychological preferences on how people perceive the world around them and make decisions. There are 16 types of results one can get, ranging from what you answered for the questions. The results gave an accurate depiction of the kind of person you are.
On campus, we see different people every day. Though we can’t make these judgements right off the bat about a person, think about the kind of person you are, whether you are an introvert, extrovert, or even an ambivert.
PHOTO TAKEN by Nicole Riddle
