Scholars, such as Jonathan Cheek and Jennifer Grimes, have identified different types of introverts and have shown that there are a wide variety of preferences and forms of behavior. Therefore, classical or mythological definitions or intuitions are very imprecise.
What defines an introverted behavior goes far beyond the attitudes that a person adopts in socialization.
This is demonstrated by the 10-item introversion-extroversion test on Susan Cain's site, The Quiet Revolution. By examining the dimensions of introversion in the test description, we are aware that the definition of introversion has fortunately been updated.
Research on introversion years ago overcame differentiation based on " I like to be alone / I like to be with people ." Introverted behavior can have as many or more nuances than extroverted behavior.
Thus, in the group of introverts there may be socialization preferences that are not usually available, so they may prefer to stay home.
They can enjoy each other's company very much, but in another way that extraverts do. And above all, their preference for certain activities can vary over time, as much as it happens with other people.
Introverted behavior and its different forms
In the 1920s, Carl Gustav Jung created the introvert / extrovert distinction. Despite its existence, it was not until the 1940s that it began to be used more commonly in psychology.
It began to be investigated especially in the field of personality. Jung also identified a third personality type, although he never categorized it.
Currently there is the term ambivert. It falls right in the middle of the introvert-extrovert plane. In many ways, ambiverts have the best of both worlds, able to harness the strengths of introverts and extroverts depending on the circumstances.
Scholars, like Jonathan Cheek and Jennifer Grimes, have been identifying different types of introverts. The first type is the one that will sound most familiar: social introverts.
1. The social introverts
This is the profile that most closely resembles the general view of introversion. They are people who value reading at home more than shopping.
A social introvert highly values their living space and close relationships , preferring to go out for a drink with their lifelong friends rather than go to Tomorrowland.
Although they could be mistaken for shy people, there is an essential difference. While the shy feel anxiety when - or faced with the possibility - of being the focus of attention, social introverts feel better in smaller groups in which the level of stimulation and change may not be as high .
2. The introspective introverts
Another type identified by Cheek and Grimes is what they call "introspective introverts." That dimension puts focus or attention on a more internal element or composition. Unlike socialists, introspective introverts have no problem socializing.
This type of introvert is characterized by being people with a great inner world , capable of losing themselves in fantasy horizons and taking advantage of their imagination to translate it into creative trades.
Professor Cheek stated that these introverts are " capable of getting lost in an internal fantasy world, but not in a neurotic way, but in an imaginative and creative way ."
An example that Cheek gives is Luna Love or od, the wizard of Harry Potter. Her inner madness, which makes her mysterious as well as deranged, is what would perfectly define a mental introvert.
3. The restricted introverts
The third type of introvert that Jonathan Cheek has raised is defined more by a style of doing than thinking. They are the "restricted introverts", who raise their actions or their execution at a slower pace.
Restricted or reserved introverts prefer to think before speaking or acting, and may take longer to get going. Professor Cheek states that "I have never thought of introversion this way before, so I am interested to see what future research tells us about restricted introversion and how it correlates with the other varieties."
They take their time before doing anything, plan everything they will do during the day, and like to keep the situation under control. Unlike the anxious, they don't have to be insecure. They are simply people who analyze the world and put aside their impulsiveness.
4. Anxious introverts or social anxiety?
Professor Cheek points to another type of introvert, the anxious introvert. They respond to items with statements like, " I feel painfully self-conscious when I'm around strangers, " or " Even when I'm in a group of friends, I feel very lonely and restless ."
Faced with a profile that may seem similar, we sometimes speak of introversion and other times of social anxiety.
Reflections on introversion
Introverts are people who enjoy solitude and often have an active inner life. They take a more deliberate approach to personal growth and feel drained by over-stimulating environments.
In different people, the different components could be more or less important, but in general they all look quite similar on these points.
What is surprising about the different varieties or components of introversion is how enriching they can all be. Extroverts have always tended to benefit from the assumption that their way of life was psychologically healthy.
Researchers like Cain and Dembling show us with their study how varied and adaptive introverted behavior can be.
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