Difference between Extrovert and Introvert

There is a common belief that an introvert is a shy person who doesn’t make friends easily and an extrovert is a person who has good social skills and is not shy. Those are NOT the deciding factors for introversion and extroversion. The core difference is that introverts make their decisions based on their own evaluation of information while extroverts are influenced by what other people say and believe. And it's not likely that one can tell that someone is an introvert or extrovert just because they're friendly or appear happy. Note that most world famous actors and actresses are introverts! There are other differences between the introvert and extrovert states.

While some would say that the core difference is that introverts derive their energy from inside themselves and extroverts derive their energy from other people, it is a matter of debate which is the more important.

Inward Thinking
Introverts are turned inward in their thinking processes. They evaluate what they think and feel and are not concerned with what other people think and feel about something. Extroverts are concerned about what other people think and feel and will not make a decision if it goes against the status quo. This is one of the reasons the sales pitch ‘Everybody is doing it’ works so well when selling something to an extrovert. An introvert is more likely to say, ‘so what?’ and evaluate whether it is good for the environment, good for the country, good for the individual. Extroverts don’t evaluate information for themselves. They believe the information that other people tell them.

There is a common misconception going around that introverts think inside themselves and extroverts think aloud. This is just not true. This line of thought comes from a professor who wrote a book about it. It is, however, just her opinion, and it does not come from the way Myers Briggs and Carl Jung defined introversion and extroversion. It's just not possible for someone talking to think to the depth that an introvert does. Introverts tend to have far deeper insights into life than extroverts do. The moment one opens one's mouth, one has less attention on one's thoughts. The brain does not think deeply when it is talking.

Nobody is completely introvert or completely extrovert. One can be introvert when it comes to work and extrovert when it comes to family. One can be introvert in one’s religious beliefs but extrovert when it comes to sports. That’s why when one does tests, it will give a percentage, e.g. 54% extrovert and 46% introvert.

Introvert Leaders
Introverts sometimes make far better leaders than extroverts. That’s because they have a greater capacity for thinking and tend to look at the outcomes of different policies and laws. On the other hand, extroverts may pay more attention to what their constituents are saying.

Both introverts and extroverts can have outstanding social skills and both groups love to be with a small group of friends and relate well when with close friends. When someone is unable to make friends, this has nothing to do with whether they are an introvert or an extrovert. It has more to do with shyness which can be a trait of either group. Both introverts and extroverts can be excellent public speakers. By the same token, many world famous performers are introverts. Did you know that Harrison Ford, Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, George Lucas, Christina Aguilera, Enya, Gwyneth Paltrow, Steve Martin, Eminem, Steven Spielberg, and Billy Joel are all introverts? In the world of the famous performer, extroverts include Eddie Murphey, Robin Williams, and Tom Hanks. What is more interesting is the fact that while there are many lists on the web that depict famous introverts, very few depict famous extroverts. There are possibly two reasons for this. The first is that not so many people search for information on extroversion because the extroverts are too busy in the company of others or, alternatively, there just aren’t too many extrovert famous people because fame depends on a certain depth and extroverts tend to focus on breadth not depth. It might also be because introverts are more likely to be writers while extroverts are too busy talking to each other.

Extroverts have many superficial friends while introverts have a few close friends. Extroverts make great sales people and extrovert consumers are easily sold to. Politicians also tend to fall more frequently into the extroversion field. Some famous extrovert politicians and business gurus include Margaret Thatcher, Sarah Palin, Phil McGraw, Anthony Robbins, and Donald Trump. On the other hand, philosophers, scientists, inventors, and those that are creative tend to be introverts. Introverts are more likely to be gifted than extroverts. Famous introverts in this category include Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and Jane Goodall. And did anybody know that both Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela are introverts? About half the population is extrovert and the other half introvert.

Personality Traits and Characteristics of Introverts and Extroverts
So what are the characteristics of extroversion and what are the characteristics of introversion? Extroverts love being in crowds and draw their energy from other people. They are happier than introverts and research shows that their brains structure allows for more sensory input than for introverts. Their sense of smell, taste, sights, touch, and sound tends to be more intense than that of introverts. Interestingly, a recent study showed that extroverts tend to read facial expressions more readily than introverts. Extroverts socialize more and spend more money on everything. Extroverts love constant change and adventure.

Introverts are creative, diligent, and guard their privacy. They have a group of close friends and draw their energy from inside. A recent study on introversion revealed that introverts have difficulty in differentiating between expressions on an inanimate object and a live human face. The study suggests that this is the reason introverts don’t have much of a desire for the company of others. It has nothing to do with a lack of social skills.