You’re Not Just an Extravert or Introvert
Demystifying Jungian Psychology #2
Demystifying Jungian Psychology is a series dedicated to unraveling common misconceptions surrounding Jungian theories. Each installment explores a key concept, clarifying its core meaning and relevance, while shedding light on how these ideas can be applied to inner work.
“There is no such thing as a pure extravert or a pure introvert…they are only terms to designate a certain penchant, a certain tendency. For instance, the tendency to be more influenced by environmental factors, or more influenced by the subjective factor, that's all.”
— C.G.Jung, C.G. Jung Speaking
Misconception: Extraversion and introversion are strict, binary categories, with individuals being either one or the other, with a particular focus on sociability as the defining factor.
Actual Theory: Extraversion and introversion represent two different orientations of psychological energy and focus. Individuals exhibit a blend of both attitudes, rather than being exclusively one or the other.
Many are familiar with the terms Jung coined to explore the nature of psychological preference and type — extraversion and introversion, thinking and feeling, sensation and intuition.
Most often associated with MBTI and online personality tests, the fundamental theory was first established by Jung in his 1921 book, Psychological Types (CW 6), then subsequently borrowed by Myers and Briggs for their type indicator. Since its release, the ideas have wound their way into the collective, inspiring a range of pop psychology interpretations and colloquial uses.
Extraversion and introversion are commonly seen as labels that define an individual’s sociability and particular personality traits. For example:
Extraverts are outgoing, high energy, enjoy having extensive social networks, and like being the center of a crowd.
Introverts are quiet, reserved, favor deep connections in relationships and prefer limited social interactions.
While acknowledging that these terms have taken on a life of their own, and as such, hold meaning for those who use them in this context, it is important to remind ourselves of Jung’s original intention. The four cognitive functions (thinking, feeling, sensation and intuition) and two attitudes (extraversion and introversion) are meant to elucidate the habitual patterns and motivations of our psychology, the ways in which we experience internal/external reality, and how consciousness develops over time.
This approach moves us away from stereotypical reductions in favor of exploring the curious nature of the psyche and its structures. As such, the two attitudes can be defined as:
Extraversion: The movement of psychological energy towards external factors and the outer world.
Introversion: The movement of psychological energy towards the individual and inner world.
The psychological energy in question is the very animating life force of the psyche1. It motivates and enlivens our attention, focus, desires, interests. This applies to all realms of life, from social interaction to decision making, to how we perceive potential or interact with the environment, and so on.
When psychological energy extraverts it is near boundless, orienting to interactions with the outer world (whether relational, conceptual, kinesthetic, abstract), constantly moving towards breadth and expansion. The attention is first and foremost outward, with little focus paid to the person experiencing it.
When psychological energy introverts it remains with the source, or turns ever inward, seeking depth. Adhering to internal structures (whether based on values, logic, felt-sense memories, or symbolic perceptions) is paramount, no matter how the external world presses upon these boundaries or attempts to influence them.
If we review the common belief of extraversion and introversion in this context, we find…
Someone who appears stereotypically extraverted may be gregarious and sociable because their internal values prioritize talking with strangers, having new experiences and being themselves no matter where they are. This is an expression of introversion.
Someone who appears stereotypically introverted may be shy and reserved at a party but are able to precisely mirror and attune to a variety of individuals, demonstrating a keen awareness and responsive of the outer environment. This is an expression of extraversion.
These are the great moving tides of the psyche. We are never just introverting or just extraverting. Like the mercurial ocean itself, these psychological currents ebb and flow constantly. We are made up of both attitudes, we step into one and then the other, depending on the aspect of self being activated.
Extraversion and Introversion In Psychological Type
“Classification does not explain the individual psyche. Nevertheless, an understanding of psychological types opens the way to a better understanding of human psychology in general.”
— C.G. Jung, Psychological Types (CW 6)
Going deeper into the theory, Jung postulates that as psychological orientations, extraversion and introversion modify the four cognitive functions, producing eight distinct varieties (e.g. extraverted thinking, introverted sensation, etc). The building blocks of the personality are a combination of these, led by a dominant function that begins differentiating in early childhood. As we develop, supplementary functions are accessed. Thus, we contain all four functions in varying levels of consciousness.
The inner work opportunity is to then understand what our natural preference is and which of the functions remain relatively unconscious. The superior function, leading with heroic certainty, may be our strongest tool but tends towards rigidity. We develop a reliance on its modes of operation, which can begin to rule the psychological landscape with a kind of tyrannical fanaticism.
To counter this, we venture towards lesser differentiated cognitive functions, especially the fourth or inferior function, which has the closest ties to the unconscious. This is a typical area where we struggle, where the ego perspective feels immense discomfort and resistance. It can also draw us in, captivating the personality in a sort of bewitchment. In Jung’s words:
“The essence of the inferior function is autonomy: it is independent, it attacks, it fascinates and so spins us about that we are no longer masters of ourselves and can no longer rightly distinguish between ourselves and others. ["The Problem of the Attitude-Type”, CW 7]
To strengthen awareness, to promote development and nuance in the psyche, try identifying your dominant and inferior cognitive functions. Contemplate how each plays out in your life and what lessons they offer.
A few things to consider:
Thinking and feeling are rational/judging functions that exist on the same axis.
Intuition and sensation are irrational/perceiving functions that exist on the same axis.
When a cognitive function is dominant in your personality, the inferior will be its complementary opposite on the same axis.
For instance, if you lead with extraverted feeling, your least developed function will be introverted thinking. Similarly, if introverted intuition is your primary function, extraverted sensation will be your least developed.
Here’s a quick overview of the functions and their extraverted/introverted expressions2 to help with the exercise.
Thinking seeks an objective, conceptual understanding that aims to approach reality in logical and rational terms.
Extraverted thinking adheres to established rational systems (“I’m constantly referencing and adjusting to established theories and principles, even if it means reordering my own logical frameworks.”).
Introverted thinking adheres to internal logical consistency (“I prioritize the logical structure of my ideas and their coherence, even if it means reinventing an established theory.”).
Feeling assesses based on values, focusing on relatedness, agreeability and moral considerations.
Extraverted feeling assesses based on collective/group values (“I uphold keeping the peace and maintaining group harmony, even if it means compromising my own desires.”).
Introverted feeling assesses based on personal values (“Maintaining my personal integrity and authenticity is paramount, even if it leads to conflict or misunderstanding.”).
Sensation perceives the material world through the senses, emphasizing practicality, tangible experiences and somatic input.
Extraverted sensation orients to the immediate, tangible details of the environment (“I engage with the present moment and the sensory details around me, even if it means not taking past experiences into consideration.”).
Introverted sensation orients to previous concrete experiences and internal somatic perceptions (“I rely on my inner sense of past memories and experiences, even if it means ignoring new sensory information.”).
Intuition perceives via the unconscious, generating abstract insights, recognizing patterns, and making connections that go beyond the obvious.
Extraverted intuition draws from external stimuli to tap into the unconscious and explore many threads of possibility (“I thrive on exploring a variety of ideas and their possibilities, even if it means not delving deeply into any single potential.”).
Introverted intuition draws directly from the unconscious and internal symbolic/archetypal perceptions to make unified connections (“I trust my inner sense of how things will unfold, even if it means dismissing various other potentials.”).
By recognizing the fluid nature of introversion and extraversion, we can better appreciate the complexity of our own and others’ psychological landscapes. It allows us to see into the shadows of our personality and walk a path of self-development that strives to cultivate balance and integration.
Join the conversation
How does extraversion and introversion manifest in your life?
Can you identify your dominant and inferior cognitive functions?
Which Jungian concepts or topics would you like to see covered in a future post?
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Also referred to as libido. Jung’s re-working of the Freudian concept includes all psychological drives, encompassing not just sexual energy, but also the broader life force that motivates and animates our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, etc.
These descriptions are by no means exhaustive. Cognitive functions are notoriously difficult to grasp and I encourage further exploration on the topic. A recommended book list for Jungian Typology can be found in the members-only Resource Library.
Incredible breakdown, Alyssa! It always amazes me how humans tend to take complex ideas and over-simplify them when they require the least bit of effort to understand and implement. The oversimplification of this topic, I fear, has led to many people putting a personality leash themselves. I'm excited to explore this idea to see if/how it can help me better operate in my relationships with myself and others.
This is fascinating! As I was reading the descriptions, I realized much of it for me is situation/context dependent. Previously I'd thought I was definitely an introvert, but this has given me incredible new insight. Thank you!