Introverts are as good as extroverts. by Nanami

              Personality is divided into two types, extroverted personalities and introvert personalities. Generally speaking, extroverts are sociable people. People tend to think that extroverts are superior to introverts, and they prefer extroverts to introverts. People also tend to think that introverts are inferior people. In my opinion, it is incorrect to believe that extroverts are superior to introverts. There are two main reasons for this. First, the difference between extroverts and introverts is the difference in what interests them. Second, introverts have some strong points which extroverts don’t have.

              First, the difference between extroverts and introverts is the difference in the direction of their interest. Jung says, “extroverts are characterized by an outward flowing of personal energy (libido)—an interest in events, in people and things, a relationship with them, and a dependence on them”, and “introverts are characterized by an inward flowing of personal energy—a withdrawal concentrating on subjective factors”　(Karen, 2009)[i]. Extroverts tend to be looked on favorably because they express themselves and appeal to the environment. In contrast, since introverts don’t express themselves, people are apt to look on introverts as passive people.

              Second, introverts have some strong points. According to Shibuya & Onodera (2006), Jung says that some of the characteristics of introverts are the capacity to analyze theoretically and the capacity to control their mind[ii]. These characteristics are the strong points of introverts which extroverts don’t have. Introverts are superior to extroverts in some points.

              To conclude, introverts are not inferior to extroverts. Introverts tend to be looked on negatively because they don’t assert themselves, and extroverts tend to be looked on favorably because they express themselves. One the other hand, introverts have some good characteristics which extroverts don’t have. The characteristics of introverts are not always inferior to that of extroverts, but sometimes the characteristics of introverts are superior to that of extroverts. Introverts are as good as extroverts.

---

[i] Karen, W. (2009, October 9). Jung’s Theory of Temperaments. Retrieved February 13, 2013 from Ethics home page: http://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/jung.html

[ii] Shibuya, S. & Onodera, A. (2006). Te ni toru youni shinrigaku ga wakaru hon. Kanki Shuppan.