On January 2, 2011, the unofficial, but World Introvert Day was celebrated for the first time.
For many people, the concepts of «introvert» and «extrovert» are known from the basics of psychology studied at school or university. Psychologists are familiar with these concepts. The fragmentary ideas that remain in the minds of most of those who have ever heard these concepts boil down to the association «extrovert – «rubaha guy», the soul of the company, introvert – «book», a closed and unsociable person.
However, these well-established associative images – are just clichés, very far from an objective assessment of the identified personality types. Moreover, these estimates actually formed a false idea that one of the types of – introverts is a person «special», «not the same as all» (which is logical provided that the total number of extroverts prevails), that is, it represents a certain kind of deviation from the norm. But the founder of the doctrine of the criteria of categorization and measurement of personality traits, Carl Gustav Jung, himself admitted that both extrovert and introvert are «pure» types, which are rare, and mentioned in 1923 the existence of a third type, which today is called ambiversion.
This type of personality was defined with this name by American psychologist Edmund Conklin. He pointed out that the ambivert is a – person who combines the qualities of an extrovert and an introvert. These people are the majority, and «pure» types (extrovert and introvert) are quite rare. Regarding ambiversion, both the extrovert and the introvert represent two extremes, which are not, however, pathology. So anyone who considers an introvert to be a person « not of this world» should think about the fact that an extrovert is essentially the other side of the coin –.
It is important to remember that extrovert and introvert are «pure» types that are rare (Photo: gustavofrazao, licensed by depositphotos.com)
Most often, personality is a conglomerate of traits from the introversion-extroversion typology with a more or less pronounced predominance of characteristics of one or another type.
So who are introverts, and how do they differ from extroverts? Returning to Jung's formulation, we see that the extrovert – is a psychological personality type focused on the outside world, where his life energy is directed. The introvert is focused on the inner world, from which he draws strength, on which his mental activity is focused. Hence the difference in behavioral characteristics. The extrovert is active, eager to communicate with the people around him, energetic and talkative. The introvert, on the contrary, is outwardly more closed, not prone to free communication, and prefers solitude.
Psychologists agree that most modern societies have so far been extroverted, that is, more focused on the values and characteristics of a given personality type. It is in this regard that in 2011, on the initiative of psychologist Felicitas Heine, Introvert Day began to be celebrated on January 2 in order to treat people of this type of personality with greater attention and respect.
Psychologists emphasize that introverts are no less valuable to society, that they are amazing people with their own peculiarities of worldview, they make human society more harmonious, creating a certain balance along with extroverts.
If some draw energy from the outside, find it in communication with other people, and receive joy from it, then others prefer solitude, a deeper appeal to their own inner world. Hence the name «introvert» – facing inward. Introverts are more inclined to painstaking work, more punctual and responsible in all endeavors, persistent in achieving goals, and patient. You just need the right environment for an introvert to be able to generate an interesting idea or a non-standard solution and achieve outstanding results.
It is no coincidence that many celebrities, people who have achieved a high position, and have succeeded in one or another type of activity belong to the introverted personality type. Among the famous introverts are actors: Harrison Ford, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Emma Watson, Keanu Reeves and others.
Often introverts become outstanding scientists, writers, and sometimes generally recognized leaders in society. Psychologists recall that introverts included such people as Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Dale Carnegie, Arthur Schopenhauer, Friederick Chopin, JK Rowling, Warren Buffett.
The initiators of the holiday invite all people to learn how to properly build relationships with introverts (Photo: Jim_Filim, licensed by depositphotos.com)
The initiators of the holiday invite all people to learn how to properly build relationships with introverts, taking into account their psychological characteristics: talk about the main thing, be careful in your words and try not to offend such an interlocutor, avoid quarrels and ridicule. Having gained the trust of an introvert, you will get a true devoted friend, and he, in turn, will become a lesser mystery to you, since he prefers to open up in a narrow circle of loved ones.
In turn, turning to introverts, psychologists urge them to understand that they can only be successful and happy by accepting themselves as they are by nature, without being embarrassed that something is wrong with them, because this embarrassment is false in the root.
All three types are essentially three ways for a person to adapt to the world around him, each of which is unique. The main thing is to remain human, which is in no way related to what psychological personality type you belong to.
Postcard «Introvert Day» Article «How to live if you are a – introvert?»