Introvert or Extrovert: What’s Your Personality Type?

By Molly Mann, DIvineCaroline

To help me come to terms with my shyness as a child, my mother explained that some people, including me, are crocuses who bloom in the shade and keep their petals closed, while others are sunflowers who draw energy from their surroundings. In psychological terms, these two kinds of people are known as introverts and extroverts. Most of us exhibit some qualities of both, but knowing our primary orientation may help us play up our strengths, cope with our weaknesses, and keep our personality types balanced.

Are You an Innie or an Outie?
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), based on Carl Jung’s theories about psychological type preferences, identifies introversion and extroversion, among other qualities. In general, introverts find socializing tiring, while extroverts feel energized by interacting with others. That doesn’t mean that introverts are necessarily shy or misanthropic–in fact, they may be very outgoing–but they need time alone to recharge.

Brain-activity research has shown physiological differences between introverts and extroverts to add to the psychological ones. In a 1999 study published in Psychology Today, Debra Johnson, PhD, a research scientist at the University of Iowa, and John S. Wiebe, PhD, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Texas, used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure cerebral blood flow, an indicator of brain activity, in subjects a personality test had identified as being either shy or outgoing. While Johnson and Wiebe administered the PET scans, they asked the subjects to think freely, and the results showed clear differences in the brain activities of the two personality types. The introverts experienced increased blood flow in the frontal lobes, the anterior thalamus, and other structures associated with memory, planning, and problem solving, whereas the extroverts had more activity in the posterior thalamus and posterior insula, which we use to interpret sensory data.

Johnson and Wiebe consider their study added proof of the distinction between introverts and extroverts–inward versus outward focus. And, Wiebe says, “everything psychological in nature is, at some level, physiological in nature.”

But just because our personality types may be biological in origin doesn’t mean we’re destined to live as wallflowers or party animals forever. It just means that we have a particular orientation, a certain lens through which we view the world. By being mindful of that lens, we can develop some strategies to keep ourselves in balance between the two personality poles.

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LMj S.

1:04PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

interesting article, thank you.

send a green star

Katja S.

4:41PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

Ariel - I'm the same. Whilst I'd say I'm probably more of an introvert than an extrovert, I don't like being a loner. I've come out of my shell a lot over the last few years around people with similar interests, and have made more friends now I'm in a group of people who accept me for who I am.

4:36PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

I'm a balance between the two really. People have described me as "deep" or a thinker, as I am very creative and do sometimes need to spend time either on my own or with one person (usually my partner), doing craft and reading about topics that interest me. I never like being the centre of attention. However I do get lonely if left completely on my own for too long, and when around people I know I'm very chatty and sociable, and get on very easily with people who have similar interests.

Sue H.

9:02AM PST on Feb 3, 2012

I appreciate the thought that went into this article, and thank you. Introvert here.

Susan A.

2:51AM PST on Feb 1, 2012

I believe studies show that there are a much lower percent of introverts in the U.S. anyway that take these tests...and society is really shaped around extroverts. I found some of the concepts in the book titled Highly Sensitive People to be helpful to appreciate the good qualities of my introvert self...

Dave C.

5:38PM PST on Jan 31, 2012

thanks. I always come out introvert when doing personality tests....as does my whole family....except my mom.

Ariel P.

4:36PM PST on Jan 31, 2012

I take umbrage at the definitions for each label, they may be guidelines or stereotypes, but not necessarily true for each individual. I never enjoyed being a loner, unlike other introverts. With age and experience, I came out of my shell, have spoken in public a few times, and I'm not afraid of talking with strangers.

Bonnie M.

2:59PM PST on Jan 31, 2012

I can swing both ways. I do need my space and time alone . But in a crowd, I can be gregarious. I do appreciate solitude, as I get older, I am comfortable with just me and my " shadow"

New G.

10:34PM PST on Jan 21, 2012

Thank you.

KS G.

6:28PM PDT on Aug 29, 2011

Thanks for the article.