Myers-Briggs Type: Extraversion & Introversion

The Lens in which we look.

“People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for. “            

 “You never really understand a person until you consider things form his point of view…Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”     Harper Lee

Climbing inside of another’s skin and walking around in it seems to go against our natural tendency to stay within our comfort zones.  We are capable of empathy; it just needs to be trained. Myers-Briggs theory of personality types, based on Jungian typology, is an excellent tool to help us see the world as others see it and to better understand our own perspectives.

Katherine Briggs and Isabel Myers, a brilliant, pioneering mother-daughter team, were motivated to better understand the differences in human personality.  Through extensive observation and study, they began to see that the differences among us are not as random as they may seem. Instead, they noticed patterns in personality types. As they developed their ideas, Myers and Briggs encountered Dr. Carl Jung’s seminal book, Psychological Types. Finding congruence with his work, and acknowledgement from him for theirs, they developed the Myers Briggs Personality Indicator. Today this tool is used annually by 1.5 million people to discover which of the 16 personality types they are.

Myers and Briggs, idealist both, hoped to foster the individual’s understanding of him/herself and of the people in life who prefer to think, act, and feel differently. As World War II created devastation in the world, their fervent hope was that increased empathy among differing people would contribute to the ultimate possibility of world peace.

The world is still at odds with itself.  Yet, I have seen countless individuals, couples, families, and teams experience more peaceful lives through the increased understanding of differences that MBTI offers.

MBTI theory teaches us that people prefer to use their minds differently in four continuums: Extraversion-Introversion; Sensing-Intuition; Thinking-Feeling; and Judging-Perceiving.   These words may mean nothing to you yet. But, as you read this blog and the subsequent three, you will come to see yourself and those around you more clearly, based on this knowledge.

EXTRAVERSION ~ introversion

Extraversion and introversion are two different sources of mental energy. Each person uses both in life. We tend to prefer one more strongly than the other, and our preference determines much of how we relate to life.

EXTRAVERSION

Extraverts derive mental energy through their engagement with the world outside of themselves and are therefore drawn to it. Attending to the people, ideas, places, experiences, and things in the external world energizes extraverts. The external world is their favorite domain.  Scans reveal that their stimulus-hungry brains are activated when the extravert is interacting with something or someone outside of themselves. That “something” can be people, nature, current events, or science.

The extravert is the person at the party or office who seems to gain energy with each interaction.  Verbal engagement is the key that unlocks the extravert’s mind. Talking is a way of thinking for them. Some say they learn what they think by speaking it to others.

They tend to be gregarious, sociable and prefer lots of interaction.  They usually have a breadth of interests and are drawn to a broad array of people, activities and information.  They tend to have many friends or acquaintances, and become bored and even depressed when they do not have enough stimulation from the environment through activity or social interaction.

Extraverted people need feedback from others.  Students need to know what the teacher thinks of their work and may study best in groups where discussion stimulates thought.  Spouses need to talk things out verbally and require substantial responsiveness from their mate about thoughts and feelings. Workers need environments in which they are consistently engaged with others and where expectations and evaluations are regular and forthcoming.

Because of their need to engage, extraverts create stimulation by testing the environment, inviting responses from others so that they can respond to them. They interact not only because they enjoy being gregarious, but because they need to be charged.  They tend to prefer auditory stimulation and spend 60% of their time interacting with the world.

Susan Cain describes the extravert as; “…the man of action who is ebullient, expansive, sociable, gregarious, excitable, dominant, assertive, active, risk-taking, thick-skinned, outer directed, lighthearted, bold, and comfortable in the spotlight.” Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World ThatCan’t Stop Talking p.269

Extraversion is the cultural ideal in our country; therefore, its mirror opposite, introversion, is often misunderstood. Hopefully the following description will help reverse that trend a little.

introversion

Introverts are like the duck who seemingly glides effortlessly across the water, while underneath they are paddling like hell. Life for the introvert is an inside job. The inner world is their preferred domain.  Scans show their brains are most active when they are reflecting on thoughts, feelings or sensations experienced internally.  They derive mental energy primarily from introspection and reflection and are more aware of their internal thoughts, concerns, and issues than they are about interactions with the environment and other people.

They are eager receptors of information and prefer to interact with only a select few at a time. They are often excellent listeners.

While extraverts plunge into life events, introverts prefer to make meaning of them.

Because they prefer to keep their own counsel, introverts can be quite independent. Feedback from others is not an essential for them. Therefore, students do well in independent study and dread the “groupthink” so popular in education today.  Spouses do not feel the need for much verbal process time or extensive feedback. They generally work through things internally; when resolution is accomplished, if left to their own devises, they often see no need to communicate their thoughts or feelings.  As workers, they do not need much instruction or evaluation and can become irritated by well meaning extraverted managers who zealously offer feedback and insist on consultations.

While the communication styles of extraverts and introverts vary considerably, both types desire intimacy and closeness. Introverts need more psychological and physical space. Communication is best when there has been ample time for reflection and thoughtful preparation of their responses. Often they prefer the written word to share and receive communications.

Introverts often have delightful social skills and enjoy interaction with others in social, personal, or work situations. They can be gifted teachers and trainers. While they may value these interactions, they are finally drained by them. Unlike the extravert whose energy rises exponentially with each interaction, the introvert’s energy is depleted by them. They must retreat to their internal worlds in order to replenish.

There is often a gentle strength in the introvert’s reserve; “Most people get louder to get someone’s attention. But, getting quieter can stop a bull from charging.” The Music Lesson.  Susan Cain reminds us that Rosa Parks was the quiet matriarch of the Civil Rights Movement. Her soft-spoken “No” precipitated a movement that changed a nation.

In her thoughtful, well researched book on introversion, Susan Cain describes the introvert as: “reflective, cerebral, bookish, unassuming, sensitive, thoughtful, serious, contemplative, subtle, introspective, inner-directed, gentle, calm, modest, solitude seeking, shy, risk-averse, thin skinned.” I would highly recommend her book for those who desire an insightful understanding of this lovely group of people.

As Carl Jung stated, “There is no such thing as a pure extravert or a pure introvert. Such a man would be in the lunatic asylum.” We are wise to honor our strongest preference first, and then compliment it with attention to our less preferred tendencies. Extraverts need to first sail the seas of sociability, and then cultivate their quiet time. Introverts must protect their introspective time, remembering then to move out into the world.

It is imperative that we learn and then respect the interesting differences among us, always remembering that in the yin and yang of life, it takes all types to create the most perfect union, be it of soul or society.