Are You an Ambivert?
By Simone Smith
As much as I hate to admit it, there are few black and white issues in this world. While it is much easier to consider introversion and extroversion as two separate buckets, the personality traits are better explained at being at opposite ends of a continuum.
Some people are extreme introverts, and others are extreme extroverts, but many people display both personality traits. Sometimes, like introverts, these people need to be alone to re-charge their batteries and get away from stimulus. At other times, like extroverts, they want to be around people and in the thick of action.
What are these people? They're ambiverts!
While I personally think ambiverts enjoy the best of all worlds, untethered as they are from one source of energy or exhaustion, they do have some difficulties to overcome. After all, it might be confusing to realize that sometimes you need to be alone for long swaths of time while at other times you feel like a wilting plant without the company of others. You might also find your friends are confused when, seemingly out of nowhere, you get reclusive and need alone time.
Are you an introvert, ambivert, or extrovert?
See results without votingMaking the Most of Ambiversion
The key to making life work as an ambivert involves discovering the times and situations in which you most need to be alone and those in which you most need to be around people.
With a little mindfulness, you might find that you really prefer to be alone while at work, but want to get out and socialize on evenings and weekends. Alternately, you might discover that you are the life of the party at work, interacting with everyone in the office and jumping into the thick of activity, but when week nights roll around, you need to shift gears and enjoy quiet evenings at home.
Do you think you're an ambivert? If so, what times do you enjoy being social, and when do you typically need to be alone? Is there anything that you've done to explain to people why you are super social sometimes but more reclusive at others? Let us know about your ambivert experience in the comments below!
Comments
Ambivert here! Great perspective and an interesting topic.
As a middle school teacher I'm almost forced to be an ambivert. Some days I need to just hide in my classroom during conference periods to BREATHE and recharge while other days I need to find an ADULT to have an interesting dialogue with. On those days I'll head over to the teacher's lounge for a bit of water cooler talk. However, if the talk turns negative and I meet up with an "Energy Vampire" I edge out of the conversation. Who needs that?
Great job Simone! :)
Happy ambivert here!
Ambivert all the way. Something new to add to my resume :)
Very interesting hub. I think I lean more toward being an introvert but I do have my extroverted moments so I guess I'm an ambivert, too.
Very informative,
Rob
I am probably the norm and an ambivert. Interesting Hub, Simone. Love the video!
Oh Simone ... now I'm all confused! I thought I was an introvert after reading your last hub on this subject ... now I not so sure. This is getting complicated. I may need to hide away with my comfort blanket and think this one through.
Interesting topic for a hub! I'm definitely an introvert, but my husband is an ambivert. When he takes the Myers Briggs test, he's always right on the line for I and E.
I am more balanced than I used to be. I used to have little extroversion at all, except for singing. I'm still closer to the introvert side than extrovert, but after moving out on my own, I found I did need to be reminded lots of times about why I love living alone. In school after a day of being around people, I was quite happy to spend as much time by myself as possible. But not I work alone, so if I am going to see anyone, I have to make an effort.
An ambivert - that's me!
I suspect I may be an ambivert regarding personality. But I know I definitely AM an ambivert regarding driving my car. I constanty make both rght and left turns. 'Vert' comes from vertere - Latin for turn. And 'ambos' is Latin for both. Ergo, both turns. Just sayin'.
Enjoyed your cleverness, Simone.
It takes me a while to warm up to people, but when I do I'm incredibly extroverted. Many people just seem me as a introvert though. Very interesting hub, given that in MBTI I'm on the cusp of both P & J (leaning more toward J) and E & I (with slightly more I tendencies, probably due to a lack of confidence in myself to be more outspoken)
Interesting hub for sure. I'd guess you're an ENFP, though.
*THAT'S* what I am. On Myers-Briggs tests, I'm always NTJ, but always on the border of E and I. My parents insist I'm an extrovert, but I've always thought of myself as an introvert. I think I'm somewhere in the middle...an ambivert! Thanks for this interesting and informative Hub.
i'm happy ambivert,very informative and interesting hub....
Hmmm. I think I'm an ambivert with introverted tendencies. I say that because I need my alone time to write. :D And looking at "livelonger's" comment...I once got an NTJ on those personality tests, then it changed to NFJ, then onto NFP. But, there's always been the "I" in there.
Hmmm. I think I'm an ambivert with introverted tendencies. I say that because I need my alone time to write. :D And looking at "livelonger's" comment...I once got an NTJ on those personality tests, then it changed to NFJ, then onto NFP. But, there's always been the "I" in there.
You are so fun to watch, and your teaching voice is simply awesome. I am a true Ambivert, comfortable in most situations yet pleased as punch to recharge in a quiet private space. This is an interesting topic and I have learned a lot about it by checking in on your hubs. Very cool work!
HubHugs~
K9
Thanks for the awesome comments, everyone! It's so cool to see so many balanced ambiverts out there.
And Angie Jardine, perhaps you're just moving along the intro-extro continuum a bit! People shift from time to time, and perhaps you're getting more outgoing, eh? Also, hiding under blankets is awesome no matter WHAT one is.
I think modern society/ civilization has changed a lot of extroverts into ambiverts. We have so much stimulus 24 hours a day, it really is too much. Unless you're a robot and somehow immune or able to right shut your mind off, we can't get away from it all. So people who would have been extroverts are now finding it too much and even they need time to wind down in a quiet place, alone.
That's a really interesting theory, That Girl! I could totally see how that would be the case. NOBODY can have an inexhaustible hunger for intense stimulation... or at least nearly nobody!
filally Im Ambivert :)
Hyphenbird 5 months ago
Ambiverts have the best of both worlds. I am happy for them while I huddle in my isolated corner. laugh
This is an interesting perspective Simone. I learn something new every day here on HubPages.