Most of us have an immediate answer to whether we are extroverts or introverts. But many people fall somewhere in between. Are you an ambivert?
We tend to categorize people and things as male or female, good or bad, introvert or extrovert. While this black-and-white thinking simplifies things for our brains, it doesn’t reflect the complexity of our world—whether it’s in terms of gender roles or personality traits.
Extraversion is one of the personality traits in the “Big Five” model, developed by psychologists in the 1930s. The other traits include agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness to experience, and neuroticism. Extraversion describes how friendly we are. Introverts tend to draw energy from solitude; they are often reserved and quiet. However, this isn’t always the case—some introverts are quite talkative and not at all shy. What matters more is how much time they can and want to spend alone. Extroverts, on the other hand, recharge by being around others. They enjoy company and have no trouble being the center of attention.
Very few people are pure introverts or extroverts.
Extraversion isn’t a strict “either-or” trait but rather a spectrum. Most of us exhibit characteristics of both personality types. Some people fall somewhere in the middle—they are ambiverts. American psychologist Adam Grant from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania has dedicated an entire study to this phenomenon. He found that about two-thirds of people are neither introverted nor extroverted.
An ambivert (from the Latin “ambi,” meaning “both”) is someone who displays traits of both introverts and extroverts, depending on the circumstances, and can exist between these two personality types.
How ambiversion works in the brain
Your level of sociability is largely determined by dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone. We all have different levels of dopamine stimulation in the neocortex (the part of the brain responsible for higher mental functions, such as language and conscious thought). Those with naturally high levels of stimulation are usually introverts—they tend to avoid additional social stimulation, which can make them feel anxious or overwhelmed. Those with lower levels of stimulation are typically extroverts. The lack of stimulation makes extroverts feel bored, so they seek out social activities to feel good.
Most people’s natural stimulation levels don’t reach extremes, though they fluctuate. Sometimes you may feel the need to seek stimulation, while at other times you might avoid it.
The advantage of ambiversion
TalentSmart conducted a study involving over a million people and found that those who rank high in workplace effectiveness also tend to be highly self-aware (90% of them, in fact). Understanding where you fall on the introversion/extroversion spectrum can help you better understand your tendencies and preferences, which can increase your self-awareness and emotional intelligence. This, in turn, can improve your work performance.
Ambiverted people have a significant advantage—they can adapt to different situations and people. In large groups, when necessary, they can be more active and enjoy the company. At the same time, they can also be lone wolves who don’t require constant social interaction. Does this description resonate with you? This list of characteristics might help you decide:
9 characteristics of ambiverts
- You can work well on tasks and projects both alone and in a group.
- You don’t mind social events with lots of people, but quickly tire of large crowds.
- Being the center of attention is enjoyable at times, but you wouldn’t want it constantly.
- Some people perceive you as very quiet, while others see you as highly sociable. It depends entirely on the context in which they know you.
- You don’t need to be constantly busy, but too much downtime eventually wears on you.
- You can get lost in your thoughts just as easily as in a good conversation.
- Small talk comes naturally to you, but you quickly grow tired of it.
- When it comes to trusting others, you are sometimes skeptical, but in other situations, you trust people rather quickly.
- Spending too much time alone eventually bores you, but spending too much time with others can leave you feeling drained.
Do you recognize yourself in one or more of these statements? If so, you’re likely not a pure introvert or extrovert but something in between. Enjoy this privileged characteristic—your ability to adapt allows you to easily connect with others while also learning to appreciate and recharge during your time alone.
