Knowing if you have extroverted or introverted personality traits will not only improve your mental health, it can help your professional and personal relationships!
Most of us are introverts or extroverts by nature, but we all display either introverted or extroverted personality characteristics at different times.
For instance, you may be an introvert in a group of strangers and an extrovert at home with your family. However, most people exhibit stronger tendencies one way or another, towards either the introvert or extrovert side of the spectrum.
If you're not sure whether you have introverted personality traits, try this test for introversion.
The Introvert's Personality Traits
Introverts have an inward focus and aren't usually the life of the party. They have a strong sense of self that can make them feel highly self-conscious around other people – making walking into a crowded room a little nerve-wracking. Introverts have a hard time being goofy in front of the camera and telling jokes to more than a couple of people at a time, but they can be extremely witty. They're less "Larry, Curly, and Moe" and more Woody Allen - but that doesn't mean introverts' personality traits are neurotic.
Introverts process their emotions, thoughts, and observations internally. They can be social people, but reveal less about themselves than extroverts do. Introverts are more private, and less public. Introverts need time to think before responding to a situation, and develop their ideas by reflecting privately. Introverts' personality traits can be passionate, but not usually aggressive.
Introverts can focus their attention more readily and for longer periods of time, and they aren't easily swayed by other people's opinions.
Are Introverts Shy and Quiet?
Some introverts aren't stereotypically shy and can strike up conversations with anyone. These introverts enjoy talking and listening to people, and going to parties and events. But most introverts would rather be at home. Introverts can find small talk easy but tiring – and sometimes boring. They'd rather have meaningful conversations about the depths of human souls and minds, but find few opportunities (those aren't your usual conversations at water coolers or dinner parties!).
An introvert's personality traits aren't necessarily tentative or hesitant, but introverts do prefer to think before they act. When introverts are ready they take action!
Where Introverts Get Their Energy
Introverts tend to get their energy from within, so being with people is draining. After a day filled with people or activities, introverts tend to feel exhausted and empty. To recharge their batteries introverts need to be alone reading, daydreaming, painting, or gardening – any solo activity fills them up again. This doesn't mean introverts have to live alone in a cave in the hills or on Walden Pond; they just need quiet time to come back to themselves. The energy source for introverts is from within.
Physiological Differences Between Introverts and Extroverts
Introverts' personality traits include increased blood flow in the frontal lobes, anterior thalamus, and other regions associated with remembering events, making plans, and problem-solving. An introvert's brain is literally wired differently than an extrovert's!
Introverts in Love Relationships
Introverts don't necessarily have a fear of intimacy – but they can be more difficult to get to know than an outgoing, friendly extrovert. Dating and relationships for introverts can be challenging; knowing a few dating tips for introverts will help.
The copyright of the article The Introvert's Personality Traits in Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish The Introvert's Personality Traits in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
My daughter, 22 years old, is very quiet around her family and spends
little or no time with us. However; she is very outgoing and even loud
around her friends. It seems as though she doesn't have any interest in us
at all. It's very discouraging and I don't know what to do. I have talked
with her and told her how it makes me/us feel. She insists nothing is
wrong and that she is fine. Help!
Feb 4, 2009 7:23 AM
Megge Hill Fitz-Randolph
:
This is such a useful and informative article. Meyers-Briggs has done such
great work in outline these qualities, haven't they? I'm just wondering
what your other sources are. Great piece.
Feb 15, 2009 1:09 PM
Donna West
:
This is a great article. Perhaps an article on how to get hired as an
introvert? I wonder if recruiters and management tend to mainstream
candidates, outgoing and quick vs slow, thinkers? Not sure, I do
appreciate information explaining the difference for us now.
Feb 15, 2009 7:03 PM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
:
Thanks for your comment, Donna -- and I will write an article about
introverts' personality traits and getting hired. Great idea! I'll post the
link here in the next couple of days.
Feb 16, 2009 6:16 AM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
:
I've also written "Tips for Networking Successfully for
Introverts" -- the link is in the article -- and that has some good
career-related strategies for introverts....
Feb 18, 2009 3:40 PM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
:
I just wrote an article called "Job Interview Strategies for
Introverts". To read it, cut and paste this url into your browswer:
I love reading about introverts, I love being an introvert. I used to feel
for years that I ought to try and socialise more or be more outgoing! But
frankly small talk bores me rigid and I have decided its my life and I'll
live it my way. I'm not sad, bored, lonely or depressed, I'm finally
finding what works for me and have the confidence to tell these bullying
extroverts where to get off!
Mar 14, 2009 6:57 AM
Guest
:
The stated info. really helped me a lot, most especially in knowing deeply
myself. I have an introvert personality, and the above statements were all
true!!!.(0:Jhoy
Mar 16, 2009 11:55 AM
Guest
:
I just came back from a job interview that I was very qualified to work in.
They had me take a personality test and because I was a introvert they
decided that it would be too draining from me to work for them. So to go
back to the question of if employeers like slow thinkers or outgoing and
quick well in my case they wanted outgoing and quick.However,I do believe
it is the field of work that you are appling for that makes all the
diffence.
Mar 28, 2009 10:27 AM
Guest
:
Im a 37 year old women from Denmark, I came across this site when searching
on google for "introvert". It was just yesterday that I had this
"aha moment". Im an introvert! Forever I have just accepted that
i was "strange", "a loner", not liking small talk, or
beeing around to many people at the same time etc. It was such a
relief to find out that I AM normal and not just a wierd person. I must
admit that I have always felt alone with being the way I am. Trying a
number of times to get people close to me to understand the way I workd
best as a person, but never really got my message acroos. But now I have
the tools to explain what Im all about for the first time. Not that I
will all at once, but when needed I will. I feel for the first time at
peace wtih beeing ME. Thank you for making me understand what Im all
about.
Apr 7, 2009 6:45 AM
Guest
:
hi its ashwini from india it was nice to find this article ,i myself an
extremely introvert person had always thought that i am not normal ,but i
can say introverts r never abnormals its only that they r the only kinda
personality which when led in right direction can become a genious or a
exceptionally brilliant mind , i always thought i wud not be succesful in
life but at the age of 28 it feels nice to be an executive engineer in a
power company. and what i felt in life sometimes something happens in life
which affects personality to the core .and my best wishes for introvers -
DONT FEEL WRONG ABOUT BEING INTOVERT ITS ONLY U WHO CUD BECOME THE NEXT
EINSTEIN.
Apr 14, 2009 5:37 PM
Guest
:
Both articles on introvert and extrovert was very helpful! I didn't know
that there was much of a differance. These articles are helping myself and
my 11 year old son deal with "issues", he is a introvert and I
was always mistaking that for him being unhappy! He's happy, he just shows
it different that I do. I'm 100% extrovert by the personality test on
www.humanmetrics.com (TOTALLY OPPOSITE) Thanks for the article. This
should do great things for our relationship!
Apr 22, 2009 5:07 AM
Guest
:
to the 37 yr old woman from Denmark, i hope you read this site again -
sorry to read that you feel alone. It is sometimes hard to be different
from the crowd and also not easy to find friends that you can confide in,
or people who really understand what it is like to be introverted. The
majority of people seem to be extroverted and really dont get it that we
dont enjoy the same things as they do. I too sometimes feel very alone and
like I dont fit in anywhere. My comfort is that I am very resourceful and
can amuse myself well with my hobbies: books, cooking, walking etc. I have
to say if you make a special friendship hang on to it because they are few
and far between! Live your own life and take care of yourself! "To
thine own self be true" 51 yr old lady from England.
May 20, 2009 12:43 PM
Guest
:
WOW! This was very informative. I never realized I was an INTROVERT! I
am 32 years old and just figured it out. I had some difficulties lately
and was wondering what was wrong with me, so much that I went to
counseling. She informed me I was fine and my personality is just
that...MY PERSONALITY and nothing is wrong with me. I have also
wondered why it was so difficult to stay in relationships and now I see
why. This article is ME! Thank you!
May 22, 2009 12:57 PM
Guest
:
I'm sorry, but this is an extroverts world, and I have discoverd that
introvert = loser, I too am what they call an introvert,it has caused me
enormous grief and problems, and unless you live alone on an island
somewhere, forget it, we have to get over our small personalities, just
hearing it makes us sound pathetic and weak people.
May 26, 2009 11:42 PM
Guest
:
I have been called antisocial in the past but that always confused me
because I love to socialize I just do it selectivly. So after reading this
I have decided I like the term introvert better then antisocial. People
always think Im being shy but Im really not its more like I only choose to
communicate with people I can relate or connect with. I usually find normal
things like job interviews and presentation more challenging then most
people so I try to stay at the same job forever even if its bad and I know
I could do better, for some reason Im okay with it.
May 28, 2009 12:21 PM
Guest
:
I'm a happy little introvert and some of you guys make it seem like it's
such a bad way of being. Why?
I peer into my inner world,
thinking and trying to understand things and concepts(about myself; life;
about others). I'm a person who: -- thinks BEFORE doing/sayoing
anyting -- prefers a small circle of reliable, 'ride or die' great
friends to a gaggle of acquaintances and flaky companions. Don't see the
sense in allowing any and everyone into your inner circle so I steer clear
of superficial relationships (and people). -- considers, contemplates
and reflects on my behavior and it's impact on others. -- spends a
considerable amt of time in thought and researching random things. I like
to understand. My fav question is 'Why?'. I'm like a 4 yr old that
way. lol
I don't see anything wrong with the way that I am. Now, I like ppl. I am a person, after all. I'm an xray/ct tech but I am
in school attempting to get my BA in Actuarial Science. That's more
tailored to my personality, I think. ...and I actually have great ppl
skills -- but you'd never find me working anywhere in customer service. ...and let's pause briefly to think about how wonderful it'd be if
EVERYONE who couldn't do certain occupations just left them to those whose
inherent talents allowed them to perform the job best?
I'm just
quiet around ppl that I don't really know. Now, I can get silly. I'm
talkative around my friends and I don't mind small-talk but I'm not one for
lengthy dialogue w/strangers (unless I have something worthwhile or funny
to say).
Most are shocked when they actually get to know me.
"You are so funny -- I didn't know you were like that. You were
so quiet when I first met you..." Well yeah...cause I didn't know
them. LOL I don't have much to say to random strangers beyond a polite,
'hello.'...unless they bring something else up. Other than that--what
the heck else is there to talk about? LOL
Some ppl just love to
talk. They talk just to be talking. Talking to fill the silence. Some ppl
are afraid of quiet and solitude. Some are afraid to be alone with
themselves, believe it or not. Which is why they surround themselves with
stimuli, i.e., an endless parade of ppl and activities. Stimuli on
'tap'.
...and ppl act like introverts are the ones with the
issues, huh?
Introverts and Extroverts have their strengths and
weaknesses. Bottom line: I am SELF-aware. Wonder if the ppl
who'd criticize my way of being can say the same?
Jun 1, 2009 8:05 PM
Guest
:
I really really like this. I just came across this article when I googled
'introvert'. It is very informative, and gave me enough understanding about
myself.
Jun 7, 2009 11:17 AM
Guest
:
I am introvert myself. And for all of us introverts, we are largely
misunderstood out there.
Jun 14, 2009 1:25 PM
Guest
:
Thanks for the info.. it's a big help. It's weird for me.. not sure if I'm
introvert or extrovert. I like hanging out with people, especially if
they're easy to get along with.. or in my "inner circle"..I like
when there's something to talk about/music playing.. something for
background noise. I like my solitude, just usually not with most people.
People are weird sometimes.. when it gets quiet, when everyone stops
talking for a while they have to mention that it's too quiet.. then that's
when it gets awkward. I think to myself a lot.. think of what to say before
saying it. Usually I can't think of anything and I'm just standing there
like ookayy. I'm shy, but I try not to let it show.. and I try not to let
it show me trying too hard not to let it show, lol. I'm trying to do a
little research on conversing with others because lately I felt like I have
no skills in that. Thanks again for the reading!
Jul 1, 2009 6:54 AM
Guest
:
Thanks for the insight, I am highly introverted. My mom says she knew from
the moment I refused to interact with my twin. I always wanted to be alone.
And if I interacted with him, I would go right to sleep afterwards.
