If you are not sure whether or not you are an introvert or extrovert, answer the below questions either True or False. These questions were originally created by the Quiet Revolution and this test is called the "Quiet Quiz."
I prefer one-on-one conversations to group activities.
I often prefer to express myself in writing.
I enjoy solitude.
I seem to care about wealth, fame, and status less than my peers.
I dislike small talk, but I enjoy talking in-depth about topics that matter to me.
People tell me that I am a good listener.
I'm not a big risk taker.
I enjoy work that allows me to "dive in" with few interruptions.
I like to celebrate birthdays on a small scale, with only one or two close friends or family members.
People describe me as "soft-spoken" or "mellow."
I prefer not to show or discuss work with others until it is finished.
I dislike conflict.
I do my best work on my own.
I tend to think before I speak.
I feel drained after being out and about, even if I've enjoyed myself.
I often let calls go through to voicemail.
If I had to choose, I'd prefer a weekend with absolutely nothing to do instead of one with too many things scheduled.
I don't enjoy multi-tasking.
I can concentrate easily.
In classroom situations, I prefer lectures to seminars.
The more you answered true to the above questions, the more introverted you are. The more you answered false to the above questions, the more extroverted you are. If you answered about half of the questions true and half false then you are an "ambivert," which means you carry traits / tendencies that are both introverted and extraverted.
Common traits of an introvert include:
Recharge by spending time alone
reflect before making decisions
listen more
enjoy one-on-one conversations
Introspective
Self-aware
Think before acting
Learn through observation
More sociable with people they know
Common traits of extroverts include:
Recharge by socializing
Make decisions quickly
Speak More
Outgoing
Easily distracted
Action-oriented
Gregarious and expressive
Excellent communicators
Enjoys being the center of attention
It can be important to realize which side of the dialectic you lean towards because this can give you clues into what may energize you and what may deplete you.
For example, an introvert living a lifestyle with lot of social engagements, a job that requires high social contact in an open work space, and a home life where they find little alone time, may be feeling exhausted, overstimulated, and irritable. Or an extrovert living a lifestyle where the feel secluded from others and don't have adequate social contact will struggle with not being able to recharge.
Covid-19 has recently required many people to work from home in isolation of others.
Extroverts may have felt disconnected from their peers, lonely, and socially under stimulated during the Covid-19 shutdown.
Finding the balance for yourself is so important. Identifying your temperament in regards to introversion / extraversion and responding appropriately can truly improve your quality of life.
This can be especially true for introverts because there are many societal expectations that promote qualities that may come more natural to extroverts. We see this in the workplace, in schools, within families, and communities. The pressures to work in groups, to regularly engage new relationships, to work in open spaces, to be readily available at all times, and requirements to lead or participate during lectures can all be natural for those that lean towards extroversion.
Within workplace, rewards are given to those that speak up, present with high energy when around others, those that take quick action and present as confident when that action is taken. This may disregard qualities that may be natural for introverts such as tendencies to think before speaking, their focus on depth, their sense of calm, ability to build deep connections, ability to stay more focused, and that they are motivated by productivity.
Recognizing your current temperament when working with others and the expectations that are currently placed on you is the first step. Once you have this information, you can identify changes that need to be made to increase your overall potential and quality of life.
Sam Anderson, MSW, LICSW
References
Quiet Revolution, www.quietrev.com
Positive Psychology, www.PositivePsychology.com