What Is an Extroverted Introvert?

Extroverted introverts are those who possess a combination of introversion and extroversion, but lean toward extroversion. Research indicates that they enjoy a distinct edge over people who identify mostly as introverted or extroverted.

Many contemporary psychologists embrace the five-factor personality model, which includes the degree of extraversion (aka extroversion) as one of its factors. Whereas introverts are energized by their own inner thoughts and feelings, extroverts are fulfilled by interaction with others and the outside world.

However, many fall on the continuum between introversion and extroversion, Known as ambiverts, they can be extroverted introverts or introverted extroverts, depending on the primary trait.

What Is an Introverted Extrovert?

Introverted extroverts also have traits of both introversion and extroversion, but they're primarily introverted.

What Is an Ambivert?

Both introverted extroverts and extroverted introverts are ambiverts. Depending on the circumstances, they might prefer to spend an evening alone or be the life of the party. They can be reserved when the situation calls for it, and gregarious when an outgoing manner is more suitable.

The Origins of Ambiversion

During the 1920s, Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung introduced the terms extroversion and introversion to the masses. As he researched personality types, he found another group of people. These individuals couldn’t quite be identified as introverts or extroverts.

Arguing that there is no such thing as a pure extrovert or introvert, he said, "There are people who are fairly well-balanced who are just as much influenced from within as from without, or just as little."

Although psychologists have used the term ambivert since the 1940s, it remains largely unfamiliar to the public. Thanks to popular YouTube videos, TEDx talks, and books about ambiversion, interest in the personality type has grown significantly in the 21st century.

And there’s another reason for the newfound attention ambiversion has received: More people are realizing that they’re neither introverts nor extroverts.

How Common Is This Personality Type?

According to Adam M. Grant, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, two-thirds of people don’t view themselves as extroverts or introverts. He estimates that more than half of the population are ambiverts.

People don’t consciously choose to be a particular personality type. Instead, personality develops as early as infancy and doesn’t change significantly with age. That’s because both environment and genetics influence personality type, with extraversion linked to dopamine levels in the brain.

Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, affects the brain circuits that “control reward, learning and responses to novelty,” according to a study by lead researcher Michael Cohen. His research found that the brains of extroverts react more strongly to activities that involve risks, such as gambling.

Other studies have also linked dopamine to personality, particularly to how much people enjoy new and unfamiliar experiences. Introverts, though, have fewer dopamine receptors in their brains than extroverts do. Ambiverts, again, lie in the middle, with a higher dopamine threshold than introverts have but a lower threshold than extroverts do.

They’re not party animals or wallflowers, but have shades of both. Overall, they have well-balanced personalities, and, because of this, ambiverts are thought to have some advantages over introverts and extroverts. 

The Benefits of Ambiversion

Extroverts have long been thought to possess the people skills, showmanship, and charisma needed to climb the corporate ladder, but research indicates that ambiverts might enjoy greater career success. Grant’s research on the topic indicates that it's not extroverts who excel as salespeople, but ambiverts.

He gave a personality test to 340 call center employees and found that ambiverts sold 51% more products per hour than the average salesperson did. He identified these workers as ambiverts because their personality test scores fell in the middle of introversion and extroversion.

So, why were the ambiverts so successful? Their personality traits make them adaptable; they know when to turn on the charm and when to pull back on their gregariousness. This differs from extroverts, who may not know when to reel in their outgoing personalities, and from introverts, who may be too reserved to reveal much of themselves to customers at all.

This social flexibility helps ambiverts stay in sync with a wide variety of people—some of whom might be put off by overenthusiastic and highly talkative salespeople, and others who might be more likely to make a purchase from a friendly salesperson.

The Challenges of Being an Extroverted Introvert

Although ambiverts can experience advantages over more extreme personalities, they also have struggles. They need to be self-aware to determine which side of their personality to bring out in a particular situation. They must also learn not to force themselves to behave like an extrovert during times when they feel more like an introvert (and vice versa), because doing so may leave them emotionally drained. 

Another challenge ambiverts face is that some people might struggle to read them correctly. A colleague, for example, might be surprised that the fun-loving person they met in the workplace often prefers to spend quiet evenings with just one or two friends.

Therefore, it’s important not only that ambiverts recognize when they’re feeling more introverted or extroverted but also when to set boundaries with others who pressure them to behave one way or another. As awareness of ambiversion spreads, more people can be expected to recognize the traits of ambiversion—in others and in themselves.

Are You an Ambivert?

If you're wondering where on the scale of extroversion and introversion you fall, our fast and free quiz can help you figure it out!