Extraversion and introversion

This article deals with the psychological term Introversion. If you are looking for the games developer, see Introversion Software

Introversion is generally a behaviour contrasted with extroversion. The word is also used informally to refer to somebody who prefers solitary activities to social ones, which is more of a behavioural than cognitive definition.

Introverts tend to be seen as quiet and reserved, which is often confused with a lack of confidence by louder, more extroverted people. They often perform well in analytical roles that require intelligence or logic, but place less emphasis on social interactions and "people skills". Introverts are usually a minority in the general population, and they can often be sidelined by culture and society, which in many cases favors the more common extroverted style of behaviour.

The terms Introvert and Extrovert have been debated about. Psychologists have quibbled about how to properly define these terms in light of the other characteristics of personality as postulated by Myers, Briggs, and Jung. The most commonly accepted interpretation today is to view the two personality types in light of where they 'draw their energy from' and how they 'sustain it.' An introvert finds his/her energy from within themselves, from their own internal processes. They, thus, find themselves alone a lot, as this is the way they draw their daily psychic energy. When they are around too many people that they don't know, or are forced to improvise in unusual social situations they lose their energy. They are very quiet because they are constantly reflecting on not only the world around them, but also the world within them. They tend to take their time, and mean exactly what they say when they say it; as such, introverts are often very in tune with their inner workings. Carl Jung, a professed Introvert, said that when he reflected upon his past - in response to a biographer, and for his own autobiography - he could hardly remember the superficial historical facts about his life; but what he distinctly remembered was his psychological evolution, from a very young age. This comes across as being antisocial, but when a majority of the population is comparatively impulsive and extroverted, it is only natural to feel this way. - A comparison of this type can be found in the extroversion article.

Introversion is also featured in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).