Neither extrovert nor introvert? Maybe you're an ambivert

THE word ambivert describes people who fall somewhere between the classic definitions of introvert and extrovert. Their character traits supposedly make them adaptable, able to adjust to the person or situation in hand.

Is the world really divided into two categories of people, with extroverts on one side and introverts on the other? The term extrovert typically refers to people who are very sociable, festive and loud, while introverts are supposedly more withdrawn. But, according to the journalist Emma Beddington, writing in the Guardian, there is a third category of people, known as the ambiverts.

Ambiverts could be a "silent majority" of people whose feelings and behaviors fluctuate according to the day and their moods. And it's a way of life that could adapt well to times of pandemic. "Extroverts have been forced to explore a quieter life that some found they appreciated to an unexpected degree, and introverts are flourishing in a less hectically connected world," suggests the writer.

Not a new concept

After the introvert/extrovert duality was introduced by the Swiss doctor and psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung in 1920, the American psychologist Kimball Young first addressed the notion of the "ambivert" in the book "Source Book for Social Psychology" in 1927. For more than 80 years, the word remained relatively unknown before a study brought the concept to the forefront. According to the researcher Adam Grant of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, "ambiverts achieve greater sales productivity than extroverts or introverts do."

So how do we know if we're an ambivert? In a TikTok video viewed by more than 500,000 users, Marc, known under the pseudonym of Mentalboost, suggests five criteria, such as liking to be alone but also liking to be with people, having emotions that contradict each other, being able to listen and feel empathy, and having both introvert and extrovert traits.

Otherwise, Dr. Daniel Pink has developed a test comprising 18 questions, available on this website. But whether you're an introvert, an extrovert or an ambivert, the most important thing is ultimately to feel good about yourself!