The more posts I read from people claiming they are UXR-Cinderellas (turning back into the quiet step-daughter once the ball is over), the more disgruntled I am becoming with the messaging. Let me clarify this here and now: both introverts and extroverts are awesome — despite the common myth pushing the idea that one is better than the other.

Perhaps these two archetypes’ natural (soft) skillsets are sometimes the polar opposites (because we just love the good old-fashioned narrative of good vs. bad), and at times wildly complementary. But we need to stop painting a black-and-white picture here for good, because this very story-telling is just creating a pointless rift.

I grew up with a very supportive mother, whose M.O. was “you can be anything!” So, forgive me for not subscribing to the Carl Jung-induced introvert/extrovert scale — which got overplayed by people, who somehow ignored this famous quote from the man himself.

I, for one, quite like being both and using their typical attributes like a child on a playground seesaw. I don’t mind being either up or down, but I sure want some input in which way we’re going, so I can tailor the “me” on show (internally and externally, as well).

Besides, let’s point out once again, that Jung’s intentions were twisted and tempered, so it made more sense to a layman audience. This is what gave rise to the whole A or B camp, completely disregarding any nuances in his theory.

Quick links:

➤ Personality Sources
➤ Ambivert Characteristics

We are all just Mad Hatters really.

UX research will already demand that you wear multiple hats and adjust their fit to the task at hand. Surely, it would make more sense if you could just own up that you are good at social skills and also the more analytical angles. It’s just that sometimes, you’d prefer not to reach for one specific hat, because the weather doesn’t call for it or you are simply having a good hair-day.

Too many metaphors? Mea culpa. My point: you can be both. You can be 30% extroverted and 70% introverted. Or the other way around. The percentages may vary. T&Cs apply. The bottom line is that you are a mix of both, and isn’t that just categorially great? Such wizardry.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” — Dr. Seuss

It’s the same way with UX as a great, wide field. The courses I have taken never singled out either research or design as separate main events or better paths to take. They just go hand in hand, and you can specialise in whatever you’d like, but it only adds to your knowledge if you know a bit of both; the basics, if you will. (Which doesn’t mean you can’t have a preference — we all do.)

This way, you can pull out whatever skill, or in this case, personality trait of yours is best suited for your next assignment, and play it up. Then, when all is done and wonderful, you can return to the opposite end of your inner spectrum, if you need to pay tribute to the other side of you. Just don’t deny a whole part of you for the sake of making your “branding” seem more coherent.

So many people will be all too glad to put you in boxes. At the very least, don’t hand them additional ammunition. Let them figure out who you are based on what you do or how you work, not what a one-dimensional personality test took you to be.

Let’s talk about personality sources!

According to Brian R. Little, author of Me, Myself and Us, our personality stems from three sources: biogenic, sociogenic and idiogenic. Never heard of them? Fear not, I’ve got you covered.

Here’s what each entails.

↯ Biogenic: This source is fixed, and it is rooted in our genetic make-up and brain structures. Your in-born personality with its natural dispositions and temperament originates from here. The “Big Five” dimensions of personality (i.e. our levels of extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, conscientiousness and openness to experience) is assessed based on our biogenic nature.

↯ Sociogenic: This factor, too, is a fixed source. It has to do with your upbringing, social norms, and the surrounding cultural background or context.

↯ Idiogenic: Contrary to the two previous sources, idiogenic motives can change. Your aspirations, personal projects and plans that you pursue in everyday life all fall under this colourful umbrella.

Idiogenic sources are a funky wildcard, because they allow us to seperate ourselves from our “fixed” traits (our more generic behaviour) and swap them for “free” traits. When you do things that would normally be deemed out of character, that’s basically you reaching for a free trait. This allows you to chase your dreams and accomplish goals that are meaningful to you, tossing any pre-assigned labels into the bin (and optionally setting it on fire).

Notably, the Big Five assessment does not take free traits into account — and when pieces of data get systematically ignored, it should make you wonder how reliable the measurement framework was, to begin with.

You get where I’m going with this, don’t you?

Misinterpretations: Out with Jung, in with Young?

Introversion and extraversion are just two ends of a single, continuous dimension, and there is no cut-off point that defines which archetype you are exactly.

Ambiverts fall more or less directly in the middle, sometimes leaning towards one end or the other, but overall averaging out, bouncing back to that mysterious midpoint. You might be interested to know that most of us fall somewhere here, actually.

“There is no such thing as a pure introvert or extrovert. Such a person would be in the lunatic asylum.” — Carl G. Jung

In other words, rather than using a rigid ruler to pinpoint your personality, the ambivert type in particular is akin to an elastic band that offers more interpretational flexibility and less polarisation. For this term we have Kimball Young to thank, who coined it back in 1927 in “Source Book for Social Psychology”.

Put simply, ambivert behaviour changes according to the social context. In a crazed world where people are so quick to pick teams and paint the other the enemy, this ability to adapt sure sounds like a superpower to me.

The Ambivert Characteristic Checklist

With the rambling out of the way, let me give you a short, handy, and extremely generalised list of what makes an ambivert, to prove that I’m not just here for a vague TED talk.

As a bonus, allow me to offer a shallow personality test for the complete Teen Vogue experience. If you’re not quite that demographic, you may turn this into a drinking game. And by drinking game, I mean, drink a glass of water for each statement that applies to you.

Because I like being helpful, I have already ticked each statement for you, but nonetheless:

☑ You are good at active listening and paying attention to others, understanding their needs and responding with that in mind. At times you think you could have been a stellar politician. You’re probably right.

☑ Small talk doesn’t bother you — in fact you can be quite chatty at times; however, you also enjoy deeper conversations, where you can dig under the surface and mine for meaning.

☑ Being able to talk persuasively is in your toolkit, even if you don’t reach for it 24/7. You can convey your message with clarity, confidence and the necessary directness, if needed. You most likely know how to string sentences together that feel like a polite punch to the face.

☑ You feel comfortable at group or networking events, get-togethers, and at parties. At the same time, you know how to switch off your inner social butterfly, and spend time alone in your shell (or with your closest). Which alternative you require to recharge or even out your social batteries will vary depending on how acceptable you find society on a given day.

☑ In group settings or within your friend circle, you kind of hang in the middle, connecting clear-cut introverts and extroverts like a savvy diplomat. You probably bring homemade cake wherever you go. (Am I projecting? Maybe.)

☑ You are observant and analyse each situation, sometimes to the point of over-thinking. Still, it helps you find the middle ground rather than creating additional conflict, unless required. Ambiverts aren’t known for being meek, so chances are you are quite good at standing up for yourself if prompted.

If this reads like a daily horoscope (“you will encounter some challenges at work or home today”), then you are not wrong! This is why I don’t write personality type tests. Or horoscopes.

TL;DR

Extroversion has been lauded all throughout history, whilst society tried to find the magic cure for introversion. So, the upside is that at least now we can embrace both for what they are, rather than sweeping less celebrated personality traits under the carpet.

Yet, we already have so many areas where we are drastically divided. Why add more to the list, when you can just join both parties and eat twice as much cake?

Of course, if you strongly feel about being the flag-bearer of either Team Introvert or Team Extravert, don’t let me stop you. As long as you are happy in that group and can own who you are, that is ultimately what matters most.

Make sure you highlight your personality strengths rather than shortcomings, and you’re golden. ⭐

Further Reading

References & Credits

• Me, Myself, and Us: The Science of Personality and the Art of Well-Being by Brian R. Little
• What is an Ambivert? by IntrovertDear
• Barrick, M. R., & Mount, M. K. (1996). Effects of impression management and self-deception on the predictive validity of personality constructs. Journal of applied psychology, 81(3), 261.
• Cooper, B. B. (2013, August 21). Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What it means for your career. [Online]. Available: www. fastcompany.com/3016031/are-you-anintrovert-or-an-extrovert-and-what-itmeans-for-your-career
• Kimball Young. (1927). “The Adult Personality and Theories of Personality.” Introduction to Chapter 15 in Source Book for Social Psychology. New York: A. A. Knopf : 382–384. via Brock University
• Taylor, M. (2020). Personality styles: Why they matter in the workplace. Economic Alternatives, 1, 148–163.
• Yusoff, N., Sharipudin, N. H., & Yusoff, M. S. (2016). Comparison of Perceptual Reasoning Index of Intelligence between Personalities of Extravert and Ambivert. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 6(3), 172.
• Images by: oly214 on Freepik, bgphotographyllc on pixabay, jievani on Freepik, yakupipek on Pixabay, Marc-Anthony Macon on flickr