One of the many personality traits we are studying at the Research Center for the Science of Connection (RCSC) is introversion and extroversion. We are looking at personality and relationships in order to better understand why friends are friends.
A popular trait of many personality theories is the trait of introversion and extroversion. Carl Jung, a psychoanalyst from the early 1900s, is largely credited with popularizing this idea. His theory was that people used energy in different ways.
Extroverts are likely to feel invigorated by being with people and talking decisions through with them. Introverts need time alone to regroup and listen to their inner voice. While we can be either at times, depending on our circumstances, we have a general tendency to be more one than the other.
A common misconception is that introverts are shy. In fact, both introverts and extroverts can be shy, and this trait is more about what helps you relax and where you get your energy.
Introversion and extroversion can be a key idea to how we communicate in our friendship, which is why we are looking at this in our research. If someone needs alone time to regroup, and their friend needs to hang out with people to feel in touch, they are going to have to figure out how to make the situation work. If we do not understand how our friend needs to recharge, we may feel hurt when they abandon us at a party for the comfort of their couch. When we understand that something is simply a friend’s nature, it is easier not to take their behaviors personally.
These are the kinds of things we are looking at as we ponder why friends are friends. Please join us on this journey of discovery by taking our friendship assessment.