The Differences between Extraversion and Introversion

Each person is unique. Everyone has a different personality inside them. Some of them
are like to being surrounded by people, enjoy meeting new people, and love sharing their
thoughts. While some people are like to spend their quality time alone, do not like crowds and
usually sealed their thoughts. There are two kinds of personality which pictures our spectrum;
However, there are a few people who have both the characteristics of introvert and extrovert
(Surbhi, 2016)

What classifies a person to be introverts and extroverts? Most of us probably think that
introverts are shy and quiet, while extroverts are loud. This statement is not true. From the
research conducted by Carl Jung, a psychiatrist, introversion, and extroversion differs from
where our energy comes from and what drains it. Based on his research, extroverts gain their
energy when people are surrounding them and loss their energy when they are alone. Introverts
gain their energy when they are focus on thoughts and ideas. They lose their energy when they
are surrounded by a lot of people. (Holland, 2018).

First, let’s talk about introversion. There are many wrong assumptions about introverts.
The first one is introverts do not hate socializing. Introverts may seem to be unattracted to
social events. In reality, they do attracted to social gathering but, after a moment, they need
time to be alone because meeting people drain their energy a lot. Introverts are also not being
picky about making friends, it is just difficult for them to befriend new people. However, once
they feel comfortable with someone, introverts will show their true nature (Arthen, 2016)
Moreover, introverts prefer to pour out their energy and mind for a person or two at times rather
than having a large community. An introverted person tends to interact directly with other
people. They also like to spare their time just for listening to our struggles, because introverts
are good listeners (Hello Sehat, 2016).

Next let’s talk about an extraversion. People expected extrovert as a person who always
loud and does not like to be quiet or spend time alone. In fact, it does not work that way. Even
if extroverts spend a lot of time with a lot of people, they also need some time for themselves.
They use this quality time to recharge and sometimes accompanied with the music. As
Kahnweiler said, extrovert also need their time alone, but in a shorter period and in a different
way (Tartakovsky, 2013). Another misconception about extroverts are people think they are
super friendly and have incredible social skills. It is wrong because sometimes extrovert blurted
out what’s on their mind and maybe say some inappropriate things and make people around
them to feel uncomfortable (Stinson, 2018).

In our life we have declared whether as an extrovert or an introvert, however, as a person

we cannot be completely introverts or extroverts. For example, we considered as an introvert
if we have a dominant portion of it, but we still have an extraverted side. Research found how
an extrovert and an introvert person differ in science and social sector.

Based on biological studies, our introvert and extrovert sides are determined by our DNA
(Dodgson, 2018). Introverts have a lot of arousal that leads them to feel stimulated chemical.
“This is not sexual arousal, but it is a need to be stimulated before you act and before you can
do what you want to do” (Blair, n.d.). This chemical substance is the reason introverts do not
like crowded places that will give them more pressure, because for them, their pressure is
already a lot. On the other hand, extroverts have a fewer amount of arousal chemical so to make
them fulfilled with energy they have to go to crowded places and that is why extroverts like to
go to social occasions (Dodgson, 2018).

Research also proves that introverts and extroverts behave differently.Introverts talk
more concrete, while extroverts talk more abstractly. Another thing is extroverts love to wear
clothing with more decoration, while introverts tend to wear plain clothing. Extroverts are also
more often to take risks than introverts (Dodgson, 2018). Extroverts are reportedly have a
higher overall of happiness than introverts, but this does not mean that introverts are not happy,
it could be that introverts are express their happiness less than extroverts. Another interesting
thing to add is extroverts are more sensitive to rewards, while introverts are more sensitive to
punishment (Suzanne, 2018).

Many entities have observed extraverted vs introverted for a long time. Introversion and
extroversion may have a lot of difference, but a person can never completely have all the trait
of one side. People in this world have both the characteristic of introversion and extroversion,
but one of them is dominant and that determines whether the person considered as an introvert
or an extrovert. Although they contradict each other, introversion and extroversion has their
own unique characteristics that make this world full of beautiful diversity (NERIS Analytics
Limited, 2011).
References:

Arthen, D. (2016, May 15). 6 Things to Know about Introversion. The Jakarta Post.
Retrieved from www.thejakartapost.com/life/2016/05/15/6-things-to-know-about-
introversion.html.

Hello Sehat. (2016, September 26). Five False Assumptions Regarding Introverts. The
Jakarta Post. Retrieved from www.thejakartapost.com/life/2016/09/26/five-false-
assumptions-regarding-introverts.html.

Legg, Timothy J. (2018). Are You an Extrovert? Here’s How to Tell. Retrieved from
www.healthline.com/health/what-is-an-extrovert#1.

NERIS Analytics Limited. (2011). Mind: Introverted vs. Extraverted. Retrieved from
www.16personalities.com/articles/mind-introverted-vs-extraverted.

Stinson, A. (2018, November 13). These 5 Myths About Extroverts Might Really Surprise
You. Elite Daily. Retrieved from www.elitedaily.com/p/these-myths-about-extroverts-
might-really-surprise-you-9087947.

Surbhi, S. (2018). Difference Between Introvert and Extrovert (with Comparison Chart).
Retrieved from keydifferences.com/difference-between-introvert-and-extrovert.html.

Suzanne, K. (2018). Extrovert vs Introvert. Retrieved from

www.diffen.com/difference/Extrovert_vs_Introvert.

Tartakovsky, M. (2013). 7 Persistent Myths about Introverts & Extroverts. Retrieved from
psychcentral.com/blog/7-persistent-myths-about-introverts-extroverts.