Extraversion - Introversion
Extraversion - introversion is one of the five most important socionic dichotomies (pairs of traits), accounting for approximately 22% of the total variance in personality characteristics when these characteristics are decomposed into Reinin traits.
Table 1. Main diagnostic traits
| Extravert: | Introvert: |
|---|---|
| talkative | taciturn |
| speaks loudly | speaks quietly |
| speaks quickly | speaks slowly |
| gestures a great deal | does not gesture |
| readily switches to the informal form of address, “ty” | prefers to use the formal form of address, “vy” |
| enjoys speaking before an audience | avoids speaking before an audience |
| puts forward various initiatives | waits for others to take the initiative |
| readily expends energy and resources | prefers to conserve energy and resources |
| achieves results through the number of attempts made | achieves results through the quality of actions (with fewer actions) |
| exhibits inertia in action - has difficulty stopping, even if the task has already been withdrawn | exhibits inertia at rest - has difficulty moving from preparation to action itself |
| acts quickly | is unhurried |
| impatient | knows how to wait |
| decisive | delays decisions, weighing all the “pros” and “cons” for a long time |
| sometimes needs to be restrained, otherwise may “make a mess of things” | sometimes needs to be “set in motion”, otherwise may never resolve to do anything |
| sometimes listens only to themselves and does not tolerate objections | is attentive to other points of view |
| aspires to the role of a superior | is not attracted to the role of a superior |
| tends to have an inflated self-assessment | tends to have an unduly low self-assessment |
| devotes more time and effort to establishing a broad network of social contacts | devotes more time and effort to maintaining a deep connection with a small circle of people |
| dislikes and avoids solitude | often seeks solitude in order to “regain strength” |
The following tables present the different shades of meaning that extraversion - introversion takes on in interaction with other Reinin traits.
Table 2.1. Small groups involving the trait of extraversion
| Traits of the small group: extraversion… | Definition | Definition in terms of functions |
|---|---|---|
| +irrationality +statics | Flexible-maneuvering temperament. Active, irregular pursuit of new impressions, a desire for variety, impulsiveness in decision-making. | Strong Se, Ne; weak Ti, Fi, Qi, Di. |
| +rationality +dynamics | Linear-assertive temperament. Active, regular activity, composure and energy, a desire for involvement in social life. | Strong Fe, Te, Qe, De; weak Si, Ni. |
| +logic +yielding | Businesslike communication style. A desire to change objective reality through one’s actions, independence in action, stress tolerance, often - outward coarseness. | Strong Te; weak Fi. |
| +ethics +obstinacy | Passionate communication style. A desire for a broad network of social ties, sociability, expressiveness, demonstrativeness, lack of self-restraint. | Strong Fe; weak Ti. |
| +intuition +carefreeness | Stimulus of uniqueness. Nonconformism, originality of thinking and lifestyle, breadth of interests. | Strong Ne; weak Si. |
| +sensing +farsightedness | Stimulus of status. Euphoric disposition, impudence, physical strength and energy, a desire to be in the “thick” of life, superficiality of interests. | Strong Se; weak Ni. |
| +decisiveness +strategy | Expansiveness, incitement of conflicts. | Strong Se; weak Si. |
| +judiciousness +tactics | Openness to a broad circle of friends, avoidance of solitude. | Strong Ne; weak Ni. |
| +merriment +constructivism | Frankness of self-expression that may shock and repel others by its “unethical” nature. | Strong Fe; weak Fi. |
| +seriousness +emotivism | Vigorous but disorderly activity (without attempts to comprehend the overarching goal). | Strong Te; weak Ti. |
| +aristocracy +negativism | A desire for leadership, for imposing one’s will on the group. | Strong Qe; weak Qi. |
| +democracy +positivism | Individual initiative without regard for others’ opinions. | Strong De; weak Di. |
| +Questimity +rightness | Dominant role in the quadra Rebelliousness, openly expressing one’s disagreement with the majority’s position - with the aim of changing existing norms and adapting the external environment to one’s own needs. | Strong Qe; weak Di. |
| +declatimity +leftness | Creative role in the quadra Creative adherence to generally accepted norms - with the aim of becoming a role model and reshaping others in accordance with the normative requirements of the external environment. | Strong De; weak Qi. |
Table 2.2. Small groups involving the trait of introversion
| Traits of the small group: introversion… | Definition | Definition in terms of functions |
|---|---|---|
| +rationality +statics | Balanced-stable temperament. Maintaining one’s positions and opinions, inertia, predictability, conscientious fulfillment of commitments, reliability. | Strong Ti, Fi, Qi, Di; weak Se, Ne. |
| +irrationality +dynamics | Receptive-adaptive temperament. Passively following sources of pleasant impressions, a desire to minimize energy expenditure and social demands. | Strong Si, Ni; weak Fe, Te, Qe, De. |
| +ethics +yielding | Sincere communication style. A desire to adjust to those around oneself, a tendency to follow others, yielding, tactfulness, outward gentleness, sentimentality. | Strong Fi; weak Te. |
| +logic +obstinacy | Cold-blooded communication style. A desire to be in accord with objective reality, distancing oneself from people, equanimity, patience, dispassion. | Strong Ti; weak Fe. |
| +sensing +carefreeness | Stimulus of material well-being. Conformism, lack of originality in thinking and lifestyle, a desire to surround oneself with familiar things, narrowness of interests. | Strong Si; weak Ne. |
| +intuition +farsightedness | Stimulus of self-worth. Depressive disposition, shyness, physical weakness and passivity, a tendency toward seclusion, depth of interests. | Strong Ni; weak Se. |
| +judiciousness +strategy | Peacefulness, avoidance of conflicts. | Strong Si; weak Se. |
| +decisiveness +tactics | Secretiveness, tolerance of solitude, distrust of others. | Strong Ni; weak Ne. |
| +seriousness +constructivism | Quiet attachment, imperceptible to others. | Strong Fi; weak Fe. |
| +merriment +emotivism | Theorizing on overarching topics, detached from current practical needs. | Strong Ti; weak Te. |
| +aristocracy +positivism | Following the group and its leaders, a desire to conform to group standards, diligence in carrying out instructions. | Strong Di; weak De. |
| +democracy +negativism | A desire for independence from the group and for a high quality of independently developed decisions. | Strong Qi; weak Qe. |
| +declatimity +rightness | Normalizing role in the quadra Maintaining generally accepted norms with the aim of strengthening one’s own position associated with these norms. | Strong Di; weak Qe. |
| +Questimity +leftness | Harmonizing role in the quadra Self-criticism and critical reconsideration of norms with the aim of changing oneself in accordance with the requirements of the external environment. | Strong Qi; weak De. |
© Ivan Romanov, Saint Petersburg, April - August 2018