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E-Quipped to...Comprehend What ‘Extravert’ and ‘Introvert’ Really Mean
This newsletter refers to 'Understanding Extraverts and Introverts', a comprehensive article found on my website.
Most people think that the word “extravert” describes a party person and the word “introvert” describes a shy person. For psychologists, however, the terms have a more accurate and complex meaning.
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The concepts of extraversion and introversion come from Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung’s theory of “Psychological Type” first published in the early 1920s. The terms were later used in the early 1940s by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers to construct the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) a popular and well-known personality inventory.
The Myers-Briggs literature uses the terms extraversion (spelling as used in MBTI publications) and introversion as Jung first used them: Extraversion means literally outward-turning and introversion, inward-turning and looks at where individuals orientate their energy or get energised.
Briggs and Myers recognized that the “extraverted attitude” operates in the external world of behaviour, action, people and things and the “introverted attitude” operates in the internal world of ideas and reflection. In other words, extraverts are action-oriented and introverts are thought-oriented.
People will tend to prefer one or the other and so are labelled as an “extravert” or an “introvert”. These two terms form the opposite ends of a continuum, with a stronger or clearer preference towards the outside and a weaker, less clear preference towards the middle of the continuum.
Characteristics of Extraverts and Introverts
Extraverted People
- Are ‘outward’ focused – focus on outer world of people and events
- Attention/energy seems to flow out, or to be drawn out/directed out, towards the people and objects of the environment
- Are action-oriented – enjoy variety and action (involving other people or on their own). Like new stimuli
Sometimes have an impulsive way of meeting life
- Project energy outwards, making actions easy to read and understand – i.e. can be “read like a book”
- Like being with people
- Tend to be impatient with long, slow jobs done on their own
- Are experienced by others as ‘enthusiastic’
- Take initiative in establishing relationships
- Prefer talking to writing when communicating
- Are able communicators and enjoy having others around. Are known for their frankness, ease of communication, or sociability. Like exchanging ideas, views, observations
Enjoy talking, sometimes before reflecting – often embarrass themselves by what they say
- Have a loud speaking voice
- Seek breadth of knowledge and influence
- Figure things out by talking to others
- Learn best through doing and discussing
- Have an awareness and reliance on the environment for stimulation and guidance
Introverted People
- Are ‘inward’ focussed – focus on internal world of ideas & impressions
- Attention/energy is drawn from the environment and focussed/directed inward toward concepts and ideas
- Are thought-oriented – enjoy and have an interest in the inner world of concepts and ideas
Reflect before acting and proceed cautiously. Sometimes regarded as ‘slow to warm up’
- Not easy to read and understand. Often have hidden sides that surprise others
- Like solitude and privacy
Feel time alone is important (seek quiet, avoid crowds)
- Content to work quietly on their own
- Are experienced by others as having a thoughtful, contemplative detachment
- Need time to prepare before interacting with strangers
- Prefer to communicate by writing
- Find it difficult to think of the right thing to say on the spur of the moment
Feel their words are easily ‘twisted’ by extraverts
Often embarrass themselves because they reflect too much and don’t speak out
- Have a quiet, soft speaking voice
- Seek depth of knowledge and influence
- Rely on own insights – do not need to reflect with others to figure things out
- Learn best by reflection
For a table comparing the characteristics of extraverts and introverts, read my article: Understanding Extraverts and Introverts
3 Tips for Extraverts
When dealing with introverts it is useful to keep the following in mind:
- Remember to stop talking and give introverts a chance to speak.
- Don’t assume because they are not talking that they have nothing to say, or have no opinion.
- Actually invite introverts to speak. Many introverts will not share information unless you ask them (personally/by name) for it.
For 4 more tips read my article: Understanding Extraverts and Introverts
3 Tips for Introverts
When dealing with extraverts it is useful to keep the following in mind:
- Don’t assume that extraverts are shouting at you because they are speaking loudly. Speaking loudly is natural for an extravert and they may not even realise they are doing it.
- Ask for meeting agendas to be sent to you at least 24-hours beforehand, so you can think about and prepare what you want to contribute to the discussion. Before the meeting you can even ask the chairperson to make sure you are given a chance to speak during the meeting.
- When going to a social event, prepare a few topics of conversation beforehand so that you feel confident about making conversation. (Of course you will need to make sure they sound natural when you actually deliver them!). For tips on making conversation read my article: The Art of Conversation
For 2 more tips read my article: Understanding Extraverts and Introverts
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About These Emails
You may have been forwarded this email by a friend. In that case, allow me to introduce myself. I am a psychologist, speaker, trainer, coach and hat lover based in Kloof, a suburb of Durban, South Africa. I also do online counselling and coaching and I have clients all over the world.
On my website you'll find lots of free articles, posters and worksheets. I have written and created them all with the intention of helping you find your inner winner. Read them, use them, share them!
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+27 82 491 1136
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www.clairenewton.co.za
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