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Jordan peterson introverts vs extroverts


Connecting Jung’s Theory, Big Five Neuroticism & Creativity

By Dr. A.J. Drenth

If you asked the average person to define the terms Introvert and Extravert, you might hear something like “Introverts are shy and keep to themselves” and “Extraverts are social butterflies.” While these conceptions are certainly useful and often hold true, Carl Jung espoused a different, and in my view rather interesting, perspective on Introvert – Extravert differences.

Introversion, for Jung, involves directing one’s interest and attention inwardly, while Extraversion entails an outward orientation. Moreover, the target of the Introvert’s gaze is the self or subject, whereas external objects or persons capture the attention of Extraverts. Hence, Jung’s Introverts are characteristically introspective—attuned to their inner world—whereas Extraverts can be seen as extrospective—drawn to externalities. We might thus expect Introverts to exhibit more self-awareness and Extraverts to be more aware of what’s happening with others and the outside world.

Somewhat later in his theoretical development, Jung concluded that all Introverts weren’t attuning to the same things. Some were paying more attention to their thoughts (T), others to their feelings (F), others to their sensations (S), and still others to their intuitions (N). He thus proposed four types of Introverts—each utilizing a different function (Ti, Fi, Si, Ni)—along with four Extraverted types (Te, Fe, Se, Ne). Jung’s theory of the eight functions remains a source of fascination for personality enthusiasts to this day.

If we toggle over to the Big Five personality taxonomy, we encounter a rather different view of Introversion and Extraversion. There we find no discussion of Introverts directing their attention inwardly, let alone any mention of eight functions. According to the Big Five, Extraverts are simply more warm, sociable, and assertive, while those low in Extraversion (i.e., Introverts) are socially withdrawn and reserved.

Jungians might thus be tempted to conclude that the Big Five has little to offer them, since so much of what’s interesting about Introversion and Extraversion— inner vs. outer orientation, the functions, etc.—seems to be missing. But if we’re willing to look a little closer and dig a little deeper, we discover that what appears to be absent in the Big Five has, in many instances, simply been assigned to a different category, in this case, to the Neuroticism domain. And since Introverts typically score higher in Neuroticism, developing an understanding of Neuroticism can help us better see how Jung’s conceptions link up with the Big Five.

Connecting Big Five Neuroticism & Introspection

Neuroticism involves a propensity to experience negative moods, thoughts, and emotions, as well as heightened volatility in one’s emotional landscape. A key behavioral feature of Neuroticism is withdrawal, which is fueled by feelings of anxiety, depression, or self-consciousness. For those high in Neuroticism (often Introverts) these distressing feelings can be exacerbated in social situations, prompting them to withdraw and seek solitude. By contrast, Extraverts with low Neuroticism are apt to perceive social situations as energizing rather than threatening or draining.

But what happens once Introverts have withdrawn into solitude? How might they entertain themselves or find a sense of purpose? One option is for them to look inward—to introspect. This may involve reflecting on how they’re different from others, what they’re passionate about, potential paths for self-improvement, etc. We can thus see how the negative emotions associated with Neuroticism might ultimately lead to a proclivity for introspection:

Negative Emotions → Withdrawal → Introspection

Granted, introspection isn’t the only choice for solitary or Neurotic individuals, especially since the advent of smartphones and the internet. But for much of human history, it stood as a convenient option for anyone spending significant time alone. Moreover, those who become skilled with introspection eventually discover that they can do it nearly anywhere, making them less reliant on physical withdrawal as their sole means of escape.

In this light, we can better understand Jung’s notion of Introverts being disposed to introspection. Namely, those who frequently seek solitude to ameliorate distressing feelings seem more likely develop an inward orientation.

Implicit in much of Big Five research is the notion that Neuroticism is characteristically dysfunctional and hence undesirable. But if our above analysis is correct, this would also imply that introspection itself is unhealthy. And some researchers have indeed suggested that at least one type of introspection, mind wandering, tends to breed negative thoughts and feelings. According to happiness researcher Matt Killingsworth:

When our minds wander, we often think about unpleasant things: our worries, our anxieties, our regrets… We found that people are substantially less happy when their minds are wandering than when they’re not, which is unfortunate considering we do it so often.

Based on the work of Killingsworth and others, some researchers are now espousing that mind wandering, which is also called “self-generated thought,” is the primary driver of neuroticism. Viewed this way, it’s not only a matter of negative emotions inspiring withdrawal and introspection, but introspection itself fostering negative emotions. There’s a feedback cycle between negative emotions and a mind that gravitates toward negative thoughts and worries:

This helps explain why Introverts, presumably more disposed to introspective mind wandering, tend to score higher in Neuroticism and lower on happiness measures than their Extraverted counterparts.

Despite the association between Introversion and Neuroticism, Jung placed Introverts and Extraverts on a level playing field, seeing each as having their own signature strengths. Fortunately, some researchers have followed a similar line of reasoning and are exploring the potential upsides of Neuroticism, including certain creative advantages, which we will now discuss.

Creativity: A Potential Upside of Neuroticism?

In their article, Thinking Too Much: Self-Generated Thought as the Engine of Neuroticism, Adam Perkins and colleagues contend that, whatever its downsides, Neuroticism is not without its perks. The paper begins by identifying the root of Neuroticism as “the tendency to self-generate negatively hued thoughts and feelings.” The researchers go on to suggest that while attending to self-generated thoughts isn’t always pleasant, it may enhance creative problem-solving ability:

It’s plausible that high scorers on Neuroticism should, on average, be more creative problem-solvers than low scorers, because they will tend to dwell on problems to a greater degree than low scorers… a key feature of creative thought is the ability to generate solutions to problems that are distinct from the traditional way the problem is solved.

Furthermore:

The capacity to think beyond the current situation explains the vulnerability that Neurotic individuals have for negative thoughts and feelings of an apparently abstract nature.

Taken together with our earlier discussion, there’s reason to believe that both Introverts and Neurotic Extraverts will be more prone to entertaining thoughts and feelings “beyond the current situation. ” This propensity, according to the authors, may confer certain advantages with regard to creative or investigative problem-solving. To substantiate this idea, they cite research indicating that depressive states may facilitate analysis of complex problems.

That said, research has also shown connections between Extraversion and creativity. As discussed in my recent post, The Highs and Lows of Being a Creative Personality Type, hypomanic states (e.g, euphoria, racing thoughts) have been linked with both creativity and Extraversion. So it may be the case that the high and low moods experienced by creative types (and those higher in Neuroticism) respectively contribute to different aspects of creativity.

In particular, the lows (more commonly experienced by Introverts) may lead to convergent insight after prolonged engagement with a problem. The highs (more frequent among Extraverts) seem more conducive to divergent creativity, as seen in brainstorming or improvisation sessions. And since Neurotic creatives often swing between high and low moods, they may exhibit both types creativity.

This is not to say that unfettered Neuroticism is always welcomed, much less a guarantor of creative bliss. Whether you’re an Introvert or Extravert, living with negative or frequently changing moods isn’t easy, and effectively harnessing the creative benefits of Neuroticism can feel like walking a tight rope. On the one hand, it’s difficult to be creative if we never attune to our wandering minds. But as this wandering increasingly meanders toward worry, cynicism, or self-loathing, we’re unlikely to reap significant creative rewards. For this reason, additional cognitive strategies may be required to guide the mind toward a creative rather than destructive place. We’ll explore these strategies in future posts.

To learn more about discovering and pursuing your creative path in accordance with your personality type, be sure to explore our online course: Finding Your Path as an INFP, INTP, ENFP or ENTP.

Read More:

Are Introverts More Neurotic? Introversion, Introspection & Neuroticism

Turbulent (T) vs. Assertive (A) Personality: Neuroticism & “Highly Sensitive Persons”

Introvert (I) – Extravert (E) Differences in Personality, Motivation & Outlook

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Quiet – Susan Cain - Tom Roth

  • I liked the idea of Free Trait times. It means that you hang true to introversion most of the time, but then there are certain times where you act extraverted. These are times that are special to you.

    • The example given in the book was the introverted professor who made amazing lectures, because it was important to him. For those lectures he was an extrovert, but he gave himself lots of time to recover between the lectures.
    • Another example was the guy who organised a lot of stuff at his house. When he was invited places as a guest, he felt the pressure to provide anecdotes and to be a good guest. He rehearsed and practiced beforehand to make sure that it would go smoothly. But when he was hosting things, he could just be himself and conversations would naturally flow around him.

  • Another interesting thing was the difference in arousal between extroverts and introverts. It’s easy for introverts to be overwhelmed by new situations while extroverts are more excited by them. Introverts react more than extroverts do. The lemon juice test – where introverts salivate more than extroverts – is one example. Introverts also sweat more than extroverts do.

  • The two types complement each other. You really need both of them to do well. Extroverts are happy to do the talking and are looking for an ear to listen to. Introverts can listen well. But they shouldn’t be run over with words; there’s a difference.

  • The section on introverted kids was interesting. I think a lot of parenting advice is directed at extroverts. Perhaps introverts are more accepting of their kid being quiet because they are quiet themselves. The whole topic is very interesting.

  • Introverts being conflict avoidant was another little tidbit which I quite liked. It’s hard to get the balance between being too conflict avoidant and going off at someone. That’s where social skills and social savvy comes in. Jordan Peterson has some strong views on conflict avoidance.

  • The Asian ideal of introversion was quite eye opening. It wasn’t unexpected, but I didn’t know quite how much emphasis was placed on introversion or how non-confrontational a lot of the culture is.

  • The main message of the book, I felt, was to accept your introversion and look to nurture the strengths. At the same time, don’t be restricted by it. You may have to force yourself to go to social events sometimes. You may have to have an extroverted persona that you use in some situations. But overall, seek to build a life around your natural talents, and not around something else that you wish you’d been born with. Maybe you’d make a great wizard, but a shitty warrior. And someone else would make a great warrior, and a shitty wizard. It’s about doing the best you can with the cards you’ve been dealt. And that sounds a bit like a cliché, but clichés have a tendency of being true.

  • There was a lot of preamble in the book about the culture of extroversion. I didn’t think the book really needed that to be successful. I skim read through most of it.

  • An actionable insight here was about the best way to brainstorm. It shouldn’t be a group activity, but rather something that everyone does independently first, then at the end the ideas are collated. I like that approach and I’ll try to present it next time I have to do something like that.

  • There is zero correlation between the people who speak up and the people who have the best ideas. None at all. Your ideas are just as good as everyone elses. If people speak with certainty, and you feel unsure, it’s EXTREMELY LIKELY that they are talking with unjustified certainty. It’s an extrovert thing. It’s great to be unsure. It’s great to be uncertain. Don’t be bullied into certainty by others who use it inappropriately.

  • Don’t be afraid to make things. That’s your personality, after all.

"The word is not a sparrow": how our speech gives us away - Ideonomics - Smart about the main thing

Photo: Remi Tu / Flickr

Do you think it is possible to infer the personality of people by hearing their random conversation on the bus, based on words that have been used, and the topics discussed? Is it possible to learn something about the character of the author from the language of the story?

We are often advised to choose our words carefully, and it turns out that words alone can reveal much more than what we are actually trying to say. There is compelling evidence that our personality is reflected in the language we use, from tweets to email addresses.

The conclusions are not always paradoxical. Extroverts are indeed much louder and more chatty than their introvert peers. They also speak faster. Extroverted women (but not men) are more likely to chat in groups, while introverted men (but not women) spend more time talking to themselves.

In addition, introverts and extroverts use very different language. A few years ago, a group of researchers led by Camille Beckebum at the Free University of Amsterdam conducted an experiment. 40 volunteers were asked to look at photographs of various social situations and describe aloud what is happening. Researchers have found that extroverts' language is more abstract and "fuzzy", while introverts speak more specifically.

Extroverts say, "This article is excellent."

Introverts say: "This article is very informative."

Along with this, other studies have shown that introverts tend to use more articles (the/a), ie. more likely to talk about specific objects or events. They are also more careful in their expressions: they use careful constructions (maybe, maybe) and terms that can be accurately measured, for example, referring to specific numbers.

Extroverts say: "Let's have a snack."

Introverts say, "Maybe we could have a sandwich."

All this is quite logical from the point of view of psychology. Most extroverts enjoy the fast life and are more likely than introverts to get drunk, promiscuous and take risks. And every time extroverts open their mouths, they are willing to take a risk with accuracy, spontaneity, and believability in what they say.

The relationship between personality and language also extends to writing. When Jacob Hirsch and Jordan Peterson of the University of Toronto asked students to write about their experiences and goals, they found that those with higher extrovert scores were more likely to mention relationship words. According to the researchers, this is natural, since extroverts are “active social explorers. ”

But it's not just about extraversion and introversion. Language also reflects other aspects of personality, including openness (liberals used more words related to feelings), neurotic tendencies (highly stressed people were more likely to express emotional anguish), and conscientiousness (more diligent students used more words related to achievement). and work).

Neurotics say: "I am terribly sad."

Open people say, "You just need to be heard."

The conscientious say, "We can work on it."

Personality is also recognized in creative writing. In 2010, a team of German psychologists gave 100 students five clue words ("air crash", "maid", "fireworks", "middle ages", and "supermarket") and asked them to write a short story using all of these words. This time, the more open-minded participants wrote more creative stories, while the more benevolent ones wrote more “socially” oriented ones. Moreover, when another group of participants were shown these stories and asked to rate the traits of the authors, they did quite well, at least in identifying the traits of openness and agreeableness.

Most of these studies have looked at the language we use alone. But what happens when we chat with each other? One study found that if you had a bunch of introverts in the same room, they were more likely to start talking about problem solving (“I need to look for an apartment because my neighbors drive me crazy”).

In contrast, when extroverts talk to each other, they cover a wider range of topics and have more small talk - "I like to run" or "Steinbeck is amazing." Again, this aligns with what most people already know: Extroverts are just trying to enjoy life.

Of course, today we spend a lot of time sending emails, blogging and posting on Twitter. And, you guessed it, we give out our identity head on in these digital forums.

After analyzing the content of almost 700 blogs containing hundreds of thousands of words, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that the words people used were consistent with how they defined their own personality: for example, those who considered themselves more pleasant used less swear words.

But the team went further by tying personality traits to the use of specific words. People who are "open to new experiences" are more likely to use the word "ink", and extroverts - predictably - are more likely to use the word "drink".

Same story on Twitter. Other studies have shown that extroverts are more likely to share positive emotions and social situations, while people who are prone to neuroticism (or emotional instability) are more likely to use the personal pronoun "I". The latter is consistent with the finding that people experiencing emotional turmoil use these words more freely.

Extroverts say: “We are so happy!”

Neurotic people say: "I'm having a good time."

Incredibly, these personality ties are so stable that, according to the same study, volunteers can accurately guess the identities of complete strangers—how nervous or pleasant they are—just by reading their tweets.

In fact, we seem to automatically try to recognize the identities of the people we meet from the language they use. We are constantly judging and labeling. For example, those with many numbers in their email address are considered less conscientious. We also often think that the addresses in which the joke is "hardwired" are most likely those of extroverts (although this is not necessarily the case).

The idea that we reveal something important about ourselves every time we speak, write or tweet is a little confusing - especially if you usually prefer not to expose your personality. But it also gives you the opportunity to change how others see you. In some situations, such as in a job interview or in the early stages of dating, you can make the desired impression simply by changing the language you use. And if you succeed, then your personality, it seems to me, has a touch of Machiavellianism.

I think I'd better stop writing before you understand anything about me.

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WHAT TYPE OF MBTI IS JORDAN B. PETERSON?

In 2012, Jordan Peterson tweeted an article in the Washington Post and wrote "Why Myers Briggs is a cult": The Washington Post gets it right. Peterson is clearly not a supporter of the Myers-Briggs type indicator. He considers this unreliable and stated in one of his many lectures posted on YouTube that The Myers-Briggs has no predictive utility in predicting performance [in the workplace]. Instead of the MBTI, he often refers to the Big Five when discussing psychometric personality traits.

It is believed that there is some correlation between MBTI and Big Five traits, and based on Peterson's personal profile of Big Five traits, he is likely to be an ENFJ. However, analysis of his lectures, debates, and interviews suggests that he may also be an INFJ, INTP, INTJ, or ENTJ. Here is Jordan B. Peterson's MBTI type score based on the cognitive functions he seems to exhibit the most.

But first, a little background

Jordan B. Peterson is a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. He was born on June 12, 1962 in Edmonton, Canada. His new book The 12 Rules of Life: An Antidote to Chaos is a strategic guide to the game of life. His first book Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Faith was published in 1999 and explores the motifs, symbols, and myths created by different cultures and what they reveal about the human psyche.

Growing popularity

Around October 2016, Dr. Peterson's popularity skyrocketed after he became embroiled in a Canadian legislature drama called Bill C-16. Peterson denounced the law, which, if enacted, would require individuals to legally use preferred gender pronouns or could potentially face prosecution for hate crimes. Peterson opposed the passage of the bill as a violation of free speech and released a three-part video lecture series outlining his position on the issue, for which he drew criticism from transgender activists and peers.


Jordan argued that this bill and the so-called trans activists who promote it do not really serve the interests of the transgender community, and he cites numerous letters of support from real transgender people that confirm this. Peterson believes the law is an attempt by radical neo-Marxist authoritarians to advance an ideological agenda under the guise of helping transgender people.


Dr. Jordan Peterson's YouTube channel has amassed over 36 million views since its inception in March 2013. He has posted many of his psychology lessons online with lectures at the University of Toronto and elsewhere. What he teaches draws on the collective wisdom of various sources, including the Bible, Nietzsche, Jung and others, to shed light on the subconscious ancestral maps of meaning encoded in human psychology and the notorious myths and stories it creates. He has spoken at TEDx, appeared on various shows including the Joe Rogan Podcast, The Rubin Report, The Awakening Podcast with Sam Harris, Radio Freedomain, Louder with Crowder and BBC Channel 4 with Cathy Newman.

What Jordan Peterson is talking about

I don't think you have any idea of ​​your ability to do good until you have a fairly well developed understanding of your ability to do evil.

- Jordan B. Peterson



Because of his profession and the psychology courses he teaches, Jordan discusses a lot the underlying mechanisms that govern and characterize human behavior. He discusses the Jungian shadow and the capacity for evil and malevolence that exists in all of us (whether we want to believe it or not).

Peterson is a champion of epistemological truth and was the most visible participant in the war against political correctness and postmodern moral relativism. Much of his work seems to be an attempt to reconnect modern society with an understanding of the ancient wisdom of the archetypes and their usefulness even today.

Extrovert or introvert?

By his own admission, Jordan ranks high on extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and above average on compassion. In MBTI, some introverted types, such as INFJs, may appear to be more extroverted than they really are due to their ability to communicate. Jordan can be an introvert who is well adjusted and socialized.

His temperament is rather reserved and stoic in interviews, and he himself has emphasized that his extraversion is mostly "assertive". The MBTI describes extroverts as more impulsive and enthusiastic. Peterson is often more reserved and thoughtful, and in intellectual discussions sometimes takes long pauses to gather his thoughts before answering a question.

Sensor or intuitive?

Do not underestimate the power of vision and direction. These are irresistible forces capable of turning what might seem like an insurmountable obstacle into traversable paths and empowering opportunities. Strengthen your personality. Begin with yourself. Take care. Define who you are. Specify your identity. Choose a destination and articulate your Being. As the great nineteenth-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche so brilliantly remarked, he who has a why in his life can bear almost any how.

- Jordan B. Peterson, The 12 Rules of Life: An Antidote to Chaos

Since Dr. Peterson's work is so heavily centered on an interest in symbolism and meaning, it is obvious that he has intuitive preferences, especially introverted intuition. Introverted intuition seeks to understand the meaning and purpose of phenomena. Interpretation and prediction of future results goes beyond the literal and present. Part of Jordan Peterson's opposition to Bill C-16 was out of concern about the precedent it would set and its implications for free speech in the future.

The MBTI trait "Intuition" correlates strongly with the BIg ​​5 trait "openness" and Peterson states that he values ​​openness most highly. Extraverted perception can also be associated with openness, but probably more with extraversion. His high openness score suggests that his dominant function may be either extraverted or introverted intuition. "Openness" and "intuition" are associated with creativity and intelligence, and Peterson seems to be more interested in abstract ideas, representations, and meanings than in concrete details and sensory seeking.

Feeler or thinker?

... It is very useful to help your children behave in such a way that others greet them, because then, wherever they go, they are expected, and you can do nothing better for the child than this.

- Jordan B. Peterson

Jordan said he was above average in terms of agreeableness compared to other men. This, along with his work as a psychologist, could hint at introverted or extraverted feelings as a possible tertiary function. Introverted feeling seems more likely given its focus on morality and the archetypes of good and evil. Much of his work is an exploration of value systems and why people and groups value what they do. Even the very concept of truth, he argued, is rooted in subjective value systems that determine how we qualify it.

Peterson talked about the difference between objective and pragmatic truths, and how "fact", in his opinion, is not necessarily true. You could infer from this that Peterson is a very metaphysical thinker and probably an "NT" type. In debates and lectures, he cites a wealth of statistics and research to substantiate and contrast the ideas and theories he discusses. He argues different things based on evidence and logic and does not obey emotional rhetoric. This speaks to a strong "extraverted thinking" bias.

Judge or perceiver?

I get up in the morning, everything seems to be on schedule for me. I know exactly what to do. There is a hierarchy of priorities. And now I'm really working on a daily level, because I have so many things to do that I can't look ahead more than a day or two, although it's mostly planned.

- Dr. Jordan Peterson on h4h4 Podcast

Jordan Peterson stated that he values ​​integrity (more hard work, less integrity). In his lectures, he often emphasized the importance of scheduling and developing effective time management skills to achieve goals. Dr. Peterson's patriarchal command to clean rooms was the professor's amusing advice. Jordan mentioned that he used alcohol and struggled with depression in his youth, and only later did he start to take better control of his life. Drinking and depression correspond to the behavior of an INTJ or INFJ when they are in the grip of their subordinate function.

In closing, I believe that Dr. Jordan Peterson is an INFJ. Due to his focus on morality and wisdom, and the fact that his life's work is mainly about improving the lives of individuals and society in general through teaching and consultation, he is likely more "NF" than "NT".

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