Extraverts and Introverts

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 27, 23 April 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

Extraverts and Introverts

IT IS NO longer the fashion in psychological circles to ask such questions as “Are you a mason?” or “Have you joined the Mustard Club?” One must adopt the phrase: *Are you an introvert?” or, alternately “Are you an extravert?” Common or garden folk would be content to say: “Do you think before you act, or act before you think?” It sounds so much simpler put this way, but, of course, one cannot expect earnest psychologists to talk simply. Men who study the science of the mind have recently made the discovery that, roughly speaking, mankind may be divided into two classes —the thinkers and the doers. So remarkable is this truth that they have overlooked the fact that Shakespeare, who never professed to be a scientist, but merely an intelligent student of human nature, created Marc Antony, the extravert, and Brutus, the introvert, three hundred and twenty-five years ago. However .... He Who Hesitates This theory, which .has been an obvious truth since man first began to study man, is that those who make their mark in the world fall readily into two divisions—those who find joy in immediate accomplisment, in the vigorous doing of a job, and others who prefer to precede an act with a careful weighing up of all the factors, and a logical system devised to help them in its execution. The examples in public life which support this view are legion. Take, for example, two recent British boxing champions, Joe Beckett and Bombardier Billy Wells. Beckett was an extravert, aggressive, forceful, keen to batter his opponent to a speedy submission. It was not till the light was over that he could give an account of the steps that led to his victory. He hit first and thought after. Billy Wells, however, was an introvert; he planned and schemed long beiore his encounters, studying not only ;he proper physical methods of attack and defence, but also prying the psychological weaknesses of his opponent. Be entered the ling with a carefully-hought-out plan of attack. It did not always succeed. Like all introverts, le was sometimes over-cautious. During the war Lord Asquith proclaimed his personality with his “Wait and see” slogan. It was the cry of an introvert, a man who loved thought and careful preparation. Lord Asquith tried to tackle the war as he would have played a game of chess. His successor, Mr Lloyd George, provided the contrast. He was no less a thinker, but he preferred ready action. His characteristics were fiery, eager, dynamic, forceful. He was impatient to get things done, to see speedy results. You can easily discover your own tendencies. If you write easily and fluently, but are nervous in speech; if you blush readily, are self-conscious, and like to be praised; if you are careful in matters of eating and personal appearance; if you worry and are conscientious in your work, you are an introvert. If, on the other hand, you are a boisterous person, laughing rea-dily, an easy talker, devoid of shyness, care-free, and happy-go-lucky, indifferent to praise or blame, and with a love of sports, you are an extravert. In a word, the extravert, as a rule, thinks too little and acts too quickly; the introvert thinks too much and acts too slowly. One doctor has been at pains to put the matter in words that a child can understand. He says, speaking of an introvert: “He is anatomically well balanced vegetatively, thyroid and anteriorpituitary centred; that is, one of greatest persistent rhjffhmic energy, one who defends himself in a persistent, compensating, social manner. A taker, rather than a giver.” * * 7k * ****** **