You might have heard of the standard two kinds of people, introverts and extroverts. But once you dive into that topic, you will find that there are lots of different distinctions and personality types. Among them, one of the most prominent ones are the extroverted introvert folks. The question is; what is an extroverted introvert?
Let’s break down what the term means and look at identifiable signs that you are one.
What Is An Extroverted Introvert? Definition Of An Extroverted Introvert
An Extroverted Introvert is someone who possesses both extroverted and introverted characteristics. However, they lean more towards extroversion in most cases. Although, in technical terms, we identify these folks as ambiverts, which you might know already. Now, there are two things you should know, you can flip the term “extroverted introvert” as well.
Extroverted introverts primarily look for external stimuli to have fun and wind down but are prone to needing their own separate time away from the crowd as well.
There are clear distinctions between the two. An introverted extrovert leans towards or primarily is introverted while showcasing extroverted traits occasionally.
Think of an ambivert as needing both sides to recharge themselves. They need social interaction and isolation in balance to feel ideal and happy. However, their behavior depends on mood, the environment, and the company so they might be open and outgoing in one setting while in another one they might be quiet and reserved.
This population is quite common as half of the population has these traits. Of course, there are pros and cons to each personality type but being an ambivert in my experience is the best of both worlds. However, there is no extreme to any personality type, there is no “pure” introvert or extrovert, that would be psychotic, those are not my words but Psychologist Carl Jung’s.
Pros And Cons Of Being An Extroverted Introvert
Here are some pros and cons of being an ambivert.
| Pros | Cons |
| Adaptability | Identity Confusion |
| Empathy | Social Fatigue |
| Strong Social Skills | Overthinking |
| Diverse Friendships | Difficulty in Crowds |
| Versatility | Balancing Act to Avoid Burnout |
| Effective Communication | Guilt For Needing Alone Time |
| Networking | Misunderstandings |
| Creativity | Peer Pressure |
| Good Listeners | Difficulty in Rejection |
| Balance in Relationships | Inner Conflict |
Of course, this is not the complete list and the pros and cons will vary from person to person. However, they might share one or two common qualities given in the above list.
7 Signs That You Are An Extroverted Introvert
Here are 7 of the most noticeable signs signaling that you are an extroverted introvert at heart.
You Like Hanging Out with Friends But Need your Alone Time
In terms of a weekend, hanging out with friends sounds great but if someone invites you to a party with lots of people you don’t know, you would not be able to go. You are tired after staying out all day and interacting with people and often need to curl up with a good book to recharge.
Interactions take lots of energy to process therefore laying back and relaxing is also at the forefront of your to-do list. There is a neat balance between everything for these individuals.
Your Mood And Social Battery Highly Depend On The Environment
Suppose you are at a small gathering of friends that you know, your social battery would be fully recharged since it’s the people you know. However, if you are at a party with strangers, you would hide in a corner and hope no one notices you. Your environment decides how you react and behave, the music, the people present, the way the place looks and feels and so much more.
For example, the ambiance of a cozy cafe hits the right spot while a loud concert is a no-no.
Some People Recharge You While Others Drain You
You will find this everywhere you go. There are certain types of people you like hanging out with but some other ones you loathe. That is because you get drained because of their company. You go home and immediately you want to fall asleep, not because you had so much fun but because you are so damned tired.
Here is a clear distinction. With some friends, you can talk forever and about anything. Even silence is comfortable. But with some unbearable ones, you wish it would end sooner or you could get away.
People Are Intriguing And Exhausting
Meeting new people at a gathering and getting to know them? Brilliant. Meeting friends for that Sunday morning coffee? Bring it on. Meeting everyone every single day? Hell no. It might feel exhausting especially after you have had a rough day and want to just watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S with a slice of pizza.
You Enjoy Deep Talks
Small talk was never a strong suit for most introverts or ambiverts. Most of times, ambiverts say what’s on their mind without caring about other social situations. But most of all, they prefer to lay back, have a beverage in hand, and make conversations with their friends about anything in everything ranging from the beginning of the universe to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This does not mean ambiverts cannot make small talk, they can. You can expect them to make small talk easily in most situations like meetings, conferences, and more. But when it counts, they wish to avoid it and get to know the real person.
You Analyze, Then Talk
Most of the time, you will need to analyze the stranger in front of you to see who they are and how they can be your friend. From their mannerisms to their body language and how they hold their beverage, ambiverts analyze all the details first before being the one to throw their first sentence in.
This ensures that they do not misunderstand the other person but also because they take a while to settle when meeting a new face. Unlike extroverts who are free and outgoing, ambiverts take a while to strike up conversations while introverts hesitate.
You Hate Attention
Everyone likes their fair share of attention don’t get me wrong. However, ambiverts do not like to constantly stay in the spotlight. Especially if it is one of those days where your introverted side is more dominant than the extroverted one. For a little while everyone enjoys it but as soon as it becomes too much, it turns bad.
In addition, it can be confusing for the people around you as well. That is why, attention for longer durations is never a good thing.
The Verdict
Being an extroverted introvert aka an ambivert, can be tough since you will have to adjust to a variety of people. However, they will recharge you in different ways. The key is to find the ones that are just as adaptable as you are.
For more fun reads on introverts, extroverts and MBTI personalities, check out the Encyclopedia of Personalities page.
For some deep discussions and introspections, the Features and Essays page won’t disappoint.