Introvert, Extrovert or Ambivert? What the Science Says

"Introvert" and "extrovert" are some of the most-used psychology words in everyday life. But they're often misunderstood, and most of us don't fit neatly into either box.

Where the idea came from

The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung popularized the terms in his 1921 book Psychological Types. He described extroverts as turning outward, toward people and activity, and introverts as turning inward, toward thoughts and feelings.

How it's measured today

Modern personality researchers treat extraversion as one of the "Big Five" personality traits, measured on a scale rather than as two types. People who score high tend to be talkative, energetic and drawn to social situations. People who score low tend to be quieter, more reserved and happier with smaller groups or time alone. Like height, most people's scores fall somewhere in the middle.

Introversion isn't shyness

Shyness is about fear of being judged. Introversion is about preference and energy. Plenty of introverts are confident speakers who simply need time alone afterwards to recharge, and some extroverts are shy.

One long-standing theory, from psychologist Hans Eysenck, is that introverts are more sensitive to stimulation, so busy, noisy situations tire them faster, while extroverts seek out more stimulation to feel their best.

The ambivert advantage

People near the middle are sometimes called ambiverts. In a 2013 study of sales staff, psychologist Adam Grant found that ambiverts brought in more revenue than both strong introverts and strong extroverts. His explanation: they know when to speak up and when to listen.

Making the most of your style

• More introverted? Plan recovery time after big events and use one-on-one conversations to connect.
• More extroverted? Build social energy into your routine, and practice pausing to let quieter people speak.

Where do you land? Take our introvert or extrovert test.