Introvert or Extrovert?

Usually we think of introverts as shy lil’ bookworms and extroverts as that dude in Almost Famous who screams I AM A GOLDEN GOD before jumping into the pool. In reality, it’s more complicated than that: most people don’t belong exclusively to one camp or the other; like sexuality, it’s a spectrum. The main difference, as we see it now, is in how you—and whether you even need to—gain energy: alone, or with others. In the 60’s, one psychologist hypothesized that introverts and extroverts have different levels of sensitivity to stimulants. Basically, he thought that extroverts were less sensitive and therefore needed more things, more people, more adventure to stimulate their minds and bodies, whereas the more sensitive introverts could be easily overwhelmed. Although scientists still aren’t entirely sure what makes people one way and not another, I’m sure you already have a sense of where you land on the spectrum. Or maybe you don’t. Either way, take this quiz to figure out which trait is dominant in you—and to learn how to better care for yourself!

Take The Quiz