How to Tell If You’re An Extrovert or Introvert

Am I an extrovert or an introvert? How many times have you asked that question to yourself? And how many times has your opinion changed? Introversion and extroversion are two types of core personalities. Renowned Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung coined these terms, categorizing individuals based on how the person focuses their energy.

Introverts are seen as shy, quiet, and often called loners. In contrast, extroverted individuals are bold, social, and charismatic. But these are mere assumptions. Humans are not binary and cannot be divided into two groups. Personality is a spectrum, and introversion and extroversion are the two extremes. Most people actually fall between these two. So keep reading and finally find out; are you introverted or extroverted?

What is an Introvert?

Solitude is bliss; introverts take that by their heart. They tend to focus on internal feelings and thoughts rather than external sources of stimulation. Often, after socializing and attending parties or events, they need to recharge. Simply put, their social batteries run out. And to fuel it again, they need to spend alone time before they become ready to face the world. This does not mean they hate socializing. It just tires them out.

Introversion likely develops due to a combination of our genetics, environment, and upbringing. As mentioned above, your personalities can change over time, and you may start to enjoy socializing more. You must have heard we should turn off our phones and dim the lights before sleeping. This is because we want our brains to receive little-to-no environmental stimulation. Because if our brain starts hearing a noise and viral reels on TikTok, it will activate postponing sleep.

Something similar happens in the case of introverted individuals. They are physiologically prone to overstimulation. Overstimulation means they get easily overwhelmed by the experience, sensations, noise, and activity. For example, babies start to cry when many people are in a room. Similarly, if you are introverted, you may begin to zone out, unable to focus or process anything happening. Therefore, they prefer to visit places from where they can escape if they are overstimulated. Talking to people, awkward hellos, and meaningless small talk isn’t their cup of tea.

They usually prefer to have a small group of friends with whom they are close and highly connected. As an introvert, your peers might find you rude because you do not interact with them.

Some common myths surrounding introversion:

• They hate socializing: They are not anti-social. They just need to prepare for it. Just because they love solitude does not mean they like feeling isolated. Humans are inherently social creatures. Thus, they need friends and loved ones. Introverted people love to make close relationships with a few instead of a herd where no one truly knows each other. And that keeps them happy.
  
• They aren’t outgoing: While some are home bugs, many may still like parties. They just need more time to prepare before and after the reception. Because of this very reason, they might limit the number of events they attend per week. Let’s be honest, who has time to go out thrice a week as an adult, especially when you need extra time to prepare for it mentally?

Signs you are more introverted:

• You do not mind being alone. Actually, you find alone time enjoyable and meaningful.
• You prefer small groups of close friends instead of a large gathering.
• You keep your schedule/meeting on the lighter side to avoid overstimulation.
• You have very few close friends.
• You spend a lot of time with your thoughts.
• You need downtime after socializing.
• You need to prepare yourself before meeting a stranger, such as before going on dates.
  

What is an Extrovert?

Ever felt excited to go to a party? Then you might be an extrovert. Extroverted individuals direct their feelings outward to other people and their environment. They do not need to prepare for social events. Instead, they draw energy from being with other people. And socializing is an essential part of their life.

They are characterized as bold, confident, talkative, and full of energy. And may feel bored or anxious when they are alone. They rarely turn down invitations to weddings, parties, and other gatherings. If you fall into this category, you may often get called the life of the party, the group’s nucleus.

Extroverts love group activities, especially meeting new people and trying new things. They are big talkers who long for a good conversation, and not just with friends and family. They can talk with anyone! These social skills usually help them build meaningful relationships in workplaces, and they can use them to their advantage and excel in their careers.

They prefer to work in a collaborative environment where they get the chance to talk and help others. Therefore, they are less likely to choose remote work or freelancing as a career option, which could be the dream job for someone introverted.

Some common myths surrounding extroverts:

• They are always happy: Mental illness does not discriminate. Just because someone does well in big groups and is talkative doesn’t mean they are less likely to deal with a mental illness. There are a lot of factors that could result in mental illness, such as genetics, environment, and childhood trauma. While you may have a lot of friends, you might find it challenging to form close relationships, which can adversely affect your mental health.
  
• They are confident: An outgoing and social person is not immune to shyness and insecurities. People, despite their outgoing behavior, can feel unsure of themselves. Confidence comes from understanding what is best for you and with whom you want to spend your time. So whether a person is introverted or extroverted has no bearing on their confidence, as long as they do what makes them happy.
• Extroverts and introverts don’t get along: Well, the opposite attracts! Humans are complex creatures. If two people like each other’s energy and can connect on a deeper level, they can get along. Introverted people need a little social time, and extroverted individuals crave a more personal connection. So, these two types of personalities can complement each other well.

Signs you are an extrovert:

• You take pleasure in being the focus of attention.
• You enjoy working in groups.
• You feel alienated as a result of spending too much time alone.
• You like to converse verbally.
• You enjoy discussing your opinions and feelings.
• You seek ideas and inspiration from others and outside sources.
• You have numerous diverse interests.
• You usually act before thinking.
  

Also Read

What is an Ambivert?

Ambiverts are people who share the qualities of both introverts and extroverts. Maybe you relate to both equally, or maybe your preference shifts based on what’s going on in your life. People’s personalities change all the time. Do a quick flashback! Remember if there was a moment in your life when you needed a lot of alone time or when you were all about social events.

They love balance and thus admire alone time while craving some social time. They are the best of both worlds; good at listening, observing, and leading the conversation. At the same time, it may sound like anything works for them. However, they have their opinion about who they want to hang out with or if they just want to be alone. They love being around people they love but also need time to recharge. Often a lack of enough alone time or lack of enough quality time with others can feel exhausting.

Pros and Cons of Each

There are certain pros and cons to each. Some pros of being an introvert are:

• You are a good friend: Introverts are thoughtful, highly self-aware, and excellent listeners. Hence, they can form long-lasting relationships.
• You have keen eyes: You have strong observational skills and are good at reading the room. As you spend more time observing others, you can make more accurate observations about human behavior.
• You are not impulsive: You tend to think and analyze situations before speaking or taking action. Thereby reducing the chances of saying something hurtful or a regrettable action.

Some cons are:

• You may feel awkward at parties: You may feel uncomfortable in large groups and have trouble socializing. Naturally, you have a few friends and, on occasion, may feel lonely.
• Your career may suffer: Your lack of interest in socializing may hamper your ability to network. Therefore, you might be disadvantaged because networking is essential in one’s career.
• Prone to overthinking: You enjoy thinking and examining things in your mind. But introverts tend to overthink and hyper-fixate negative emotions.

There are also certain advantages and disadvantages of being an extrovert. Listed below are the pros:

• You make friends easily: Making companions comes easy to you. Whether you are on a date or in the office, you may charm your way into their hearts.
• You are highly motivated: Extroverted individuals are highly motivated, especially when they have a reward, like a promotion.
• You stay positive: You experience positive emotions more often as they can have relatively higher dopamine levels, which may protect against burnout or work-life imbalance.

On the other hand, some cons are as follows:

• You may have few intimate relations: Having so many friends comes at a cost. Because you have to handle so many ties, you may not feel a strong connection with most of them.
• You may have poor listening skills: You love to share your mind but may fail to listen actively to others. This, again, may lead to a superficial connection.
• You may come off as aggressive: Your dominating and risk-taking nature may come off as aggressive to others, especially in conflict situations.

Find Your Strengths With a Trusted Provider on DocVita Today

Whether you are extroverted, introverted, or an ambivert, there is nothing wrong with you. These terms describe how you handle your energy and relate to the world. In reality, we need the qualities of both extroverts and introverts. If you are in a dilemma regarding your personality or have burning questions in mind, a therapist can help you. Find a therapist from Docvita’s network of providers for your everyday therapy needs.