There is no such thing as a pure introvert or extrovert. Such a person would be in the lunatic asylum. ~ Carl G Jung
It was when he started saying things like “you must be an INTJ” and “thinkers are more objective than feelers” that I became more interested in staring outside the window than listening to this guy – a psychology student. Personality types are fascinating to talk about, but depending on who’s doing the talking, it can get a bit too stiff for me.
Often I’ve wondered why I’m less than enthusiastic about my personality type, or types. There are as many personality tests based on Introversion and Extroversion as there are types: Jung’s Typology, Big 5, Myers Briggs, Socionics, Enneagram. Sometimes I’m an introvert, others I’m extroverted, sometimes a feeler and others a thinker. For many, personality types provide a lucid way of understanding what were felt to be the abstract traits of ones character. Finally we can share on our Facebook and twitter pages that we’re “INFJ’s!”, “ISTP’s!!”, “ISFJ’s!!!” We seem to believe that our entire emotional and mental functions as a human being perfectly correlate with this well thought out, 4 letter description of who we are. Introspection and self-analysis just became a whole lot easier – just 70 questions away to discover who you really are.
But amidst all the introvert and extrovert extremist polarity hype there exists one forgotten type. The Ambivert. I had once remotely read of the term Ambivert while perusing through Young’s “Source Book for Social Psychology“. I’ve scoured the internet extensively and found very little on the subject. It seems this ambiguous, complicated, mythical creature is nowhere to be found.
Continuum Personality Scale
Introversion and extroversion are typically viewed as a single continuum. In other words: to be high in one, it is necessary to be low in the other. Jung and Briggs proposed that everyone has both an extroverted side and an introverted side, one having more predominance than the other. However, Isabel Briggs Myers only strictly allowed the classification of these two types, even though she based her work on Jung’s theory. Jung was of the idea that there was a third “middle” group. The Ambivert.
“There is, finally, a third group… the most numerous and includes the less differentiated normal man… He constitutes the extensive middle group… I call the first group extraverted and the second group introverted.” (p516, Psychological Types)
This would allow for the possibility that the majority of the population are in fact Ambiverts. Ambiverts seem like a grey area in the personality-type world. Inconveniently, paying attention to the Ambivert would present a difficult and unnecessary complication – that is, that the entire population couldn’t be squeezed into one of two boxes. Tests can never be accurate because the psyche doesn’t work in percentages. In fact, the introvert and extrovert notion was never intended to be a testable dichotomy. The concept of the Introvert and Extrovert was originally intended to determine whether a function is introverted or extroverted – not a person. However, the MBTI asserts otherwise (take our free personality test based on it here.)
Fifty Shades of Ambivert
Isn’t is more likely that our personalities are varying mixtures of introverted and extroverted functions instead of say, all functions being introverted or extroverted?
I believe that people are simply more dynamically complex than the way we polarize ourselves. The most shameless of party-goers has his insecurities, and the quietest at work can be the wildest at night. Put simply, when we’re in a comfortable environment, we’re more likely to be ourselves.
The majority of us have traits of both personalities which are contextually driven. In other words, the majority of our behavior is a result of our interactions with a situation.
If an “extrovert” has to present an assignment, he may become an introvert for the day by blocking out exterior stimulation and getting lost in a world of thought. Jung defined introversion as an “attitude-type characterised by orientation in life through subjective psychic contents” (or focus on one’s inner psychic activity). Extroversion on the other hand was defined as “an attitude type characterised by concentration of interest on the external object” (or the outside world).
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This means that just because you are considered an “introvert” does not mean you’re highly introspective and posses much self-knowledge. Most likely, it’s simply your “Extroverted” brain function that becomes over stimulated easily, causing you to avoid socializing. Meanwhile, you’re still getting lost in a world outside of your ‘self’, just like an extrovert does, by reading a fantasy book, or getting lost in a video game (an extrovert thought function). You may have a big imagination, but the function of your brain that finds ‘fun’ in storylines is the same as the extroverts who find ‘fun’ in experiences. Neither is left in solitude with the introverted function of self-analysis and introspection (introvert thought function). Simply put, you can have an extroverted mind while still functioning as an introvert.
However, there are those rare true unwavering personality types who possess almost all dominant extrovert functions and no introverted functions regardless of the situation. Even presenting an assignment would involve yapping away with others. Or for instance, the predominantly introverted functioners who find no sense of fun in celebrating birthdays or anything even with their closest loved ones, and would rather read a book instead.
The Freedom Of Being an Ambivert
From my understanding, Jung would say that we all have “preferences” of what we would like to do, but we also have the capacity to be able to be both introverted and extroverted. And as we get older, we slowly migrate towards the center of the continuum scale in most of our functions, as part of the self-actualization process. The majority of people, although slanted towards one side of the scale, operate using traits and preferences from both sides.
Ambiverts are people who don’t really prefer one way of functioning over another. In other words, you could say they’re the neutral, middle-ground hippies. They’re equally comfortable in situations where the introvert feels most at home and situations where the extrovert is having a good time. That being said, I would consider myself an Ambivert. I don’t feel drained from social interaction or going out shopping, and discussion energizes and invigorates me. I constantly seek daredevil risk-taking stimulation, while simultaneously relishing quiet time with my books and catching up on scientific essays. I’m both overly confident, but also reclusive and critical in thought.
The freedom with Ambiversion comes in finding both Introverted and Extroverted worlds satisfying and rewarding. Ambiversion helps you to enjoy a varied life. Ambiverts have enough introversion to slowly absorb the world around them and enough extroversion to be able to propound ideas and express themselves (through writing of verbally) without feeling depleted.
The notion of Ambiversion changed my life. Previously, when filling in a personality type questionnaire, I”d hesitate when answering questions like: “would you prefer to go to a party or read a book?” My first thought was “Depends on the party or book and also how tired I am from the previous night.” But that contextual option wasn’t available. Now I realize what a gift it is to be sensible, reasonable and well balanced enough to have the freedom of choice.
I don’t consider myself either extroverted or introverted. Even though I may be 49% extrovert and 51% introvert, I’m equally labeled an INTJ. Yet other’s with 99% introvert and 1% extrovert are still labelled INTJ’s. Superficially we have the same label, but psychologically we are entirely different. This is why I much prefer the Big 5 Personality traits, and their more balanced way of analyzing our personalities.
I’m an Ambivert with 70 shades of Introvert and 30 shades of Extrovert! What are you?
Did you know: You can take our Introvert, Ambivert or Extrovert Test?
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Completely enjoyed this article. And I must say it is a relief to realize I am not the only one who doesn’t fit in either the introvert or extrovert box. The section starting with “The notion of Ambiversion changed my life.” resonates with me. For many years I panicked when I had to fill out questionnaires and struggled with choosing from the provided answers. One day I finally had enough and added a choice I felt comfortable selecting. Since that day, I use this approach for all questionnaires. So using the example from your article “would you prefer to go to a party or read a book?”, my answer would be depends. You could of been reading my mind when you described your first thought.
Thank You so much for educating me. I now have the correct answer for What personalilty type are you. answer: ambivert.
Your quiz on personality types was fascinating, When reading the article on the ambivert personality, I came across acronyms that I didn’t understand nor were explained. It was in the context of this sentence- Finally we can share on our Facebook and twitter pages that we’re “INFJ’s!”, “ISTP’s!!”, “ISFJ’s!!!” Thanks, Alice Heitland
I am glad I found this because ambiversion is what best fits me. I have a pet grooming business and have to work with people everyday. I also love to write poetry and go to live poetry readings where I have to get up in front of a crowd and read my poems. I can also find a lot of peace of mind and clear my thoughts when I spend time alone, whether at a park running or home reading a book. It is never boring to spend time by myself. Being able to shift gears and deal with inner or outer reality is something I am comfortable doing. I can go some place and not know anyone and create conversations with complete strangers. I never knew what it was called but now I know.
Recently I was REALLY low on cash and debts were eating me from all sides! That was UNTIL I decided to make money on the internet. I went to surveymoneymaker dot net, and started filling in surveys for cash, and surely I’ve been far more able to pay my bills!! I’m so glad, I did this.. – p17o
A refreshing read. I have always hated the introvert/extrovert classification. I am definitely one of those people that shifts back and forth. At one point I held an office job that required analytical thinking while also working as a nightclub promoter. I was able to do both jobs and easily slide my persona to match the given context. I prefer not to be alone, but I am equally able to spend time on my own writing and working on personal projects.
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Thank you for this, I have always wondered how I am introverted but also confident in social situations, I don’t enjoy parties very much but that’s mainly because I’m not interested in the conversation not because I am unconfident. You can’t shut me up if I’m enjoying the conversation… Nice one! Proud Ambivert :)
Thanks for the great article! I’ve been really confused about MBTI because the % of my E and I keep wavering and they’re always on the brink. I’ve variously gotten ENFP/INFP and it’s hard to see myself as fitting into either category. Glad you discussed the Ambivert as I’ve always identified as one, and you’re right – a lot of things are situation-dependent.
I’ve taken the Meyer Briggs sorter, multiple ones at that, and the only ones I’ve ever received are INTJ and INTP. I try to be as objective as possible when taking it, but I think the fact that sometimes it’s INTP goes to show that my mood can make me see myself in a different light. And of course I take the stupid things with a grain or two of salt. They did help me out and what not, but now I just see myself as a human being with his own personal needs and drives.
Great article. A refreshing reminder for us to keep our minds open. It’s so easy to lock into a workable system simply because it’s efficient and internally cohesive. That it might not correspond completely to reality is often forgotten in the rush of self-recognition and a need to belong to something greater than ourselves. We humans are too desperate for solid, workable explanations, and this trait of ours gets us into trouble time and again. About introversion and extroversion…I’m not sure where I am in there, though MBTI tests identify me as INFJ. I wish I didn’t get drained by group events and stimulation from my environment and my own mind as it seeks information and insights, but I do. I enjoy many of these activities, especially when the people or topics interest me, but alas, I’ve learned the hard way I must partake sparingly or risk exhaustion. I wonder if the introversion/extroversion spectrum is also influenced by biorhythms, time of day, and overall physical and emotional health? I don’t see why not. I know plenty of introverts who are not necessarily enlightened or insightful. I think this may have to do with how dominant and in what direction their… Read more »