How To Spot An Introvert

Whilst most people rely on how determining whether someone is introverted by how they speak much, whether they listen well or not, whether they are leaders or followers, whether they’d go to parties regularly and so on, such methods will lead to inaccuracy when someone does not fit the mould.

Here are some tips that will help you spot even the most talkative introvert:

• The natural equilibrium state of an introvert will be detached or contained within themselves as that is where they gain energy from
• In conversation they will typically have a neutral to backward lean - they may lean forward while they draw upon extroverted functions, but they will return to their equilibrium contained state after
• There will be a greater comfort level in using introverted functions when disengaging eye contact (up, down, left or right) from the conversation or environment

The Introvert Myth

Common belief is that introverts are most drained by being around people and social interaction, however this is not the case with all introverts. In fact many introverts will not find interacting with other people that draining and be highly articulate, well skilled in conversation and public speaking (particularly IxxJ's as they have their external interaction function, Fe or Te, placed second on their functional hierarchy), which can result in them being misconceived or mistyped as extroverts, when they are actually drawing their energy from inside as introverts do.

The truth is that introverts are drained by different aspects of the external world depending on what their dominant (which is what we are most stimulated by) and hence inferior cogntive function (which is what we are most drained by) is:

Si dominants (ISTJ and ISFJ) are most drained by Ne i.e. the different patterns and possibilities of the external world

Ni dominants (INTJ and INFJ) are most drained by Se i.e. the literal physical details of the external world

Fi dominants (ISFP and INFP) are most drained by Te  i.e. the structural dynamics and protocols of the external world

Ti dominants (ISTP and INTP) are most drained by Fe i.e the social dynamics of the external world

Famous INTP

Male

Tom Baker
Jimmy Carr
McCauley Culkin
Richard Dawkins
Jeff Golbum
Alfred Hitchcock
Colin Mochrie
Jim Parsons
Ryan Stiles

Female

Kari Byron
Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen

INTP Profile

Dominant Cognitive Function: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Auxiliary Cognitive Function: Extroverted Intuition (Ne)
Tertiary Cognitive Function: Introverted Sensing (Si)
Inferior Cognitive Function: Extroverted Feeling (Fe)


INTP Celebrities

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) – Cognitive Functions

What Is It?

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) is an external “dynamics” judgment function that makes objective decisions based on the social dynamics of the external world.

Who uses it?

As a dominant function (most stimulated by) – ESFJ, ENFJ
As a auxiliary function (supporting the dominant function) – ISFJ, INFJ
As a tertiary function – ESTP, ENTP
As an inferior function (most drained by) – ISTP, INTP

What are it's characteristics and themes?

• Caring
• Social Awareness
• Charisma
• Diplomatic
• Communal

For more about the cognitive functions and how to further develop their use check out Functions of Type: Activities for Developing the Eight Jungian Functions

Introverted Thinking (Ti) – Cognitive Functions

What Is It?

Introverted Thinking (Ti) is an internal “compass” judgment function that allows us to make decisions based upon internal, subjective logical deductions.

Who uses it?

• As a dominant function (most stimulated by) – ISTP, INTP
• As a auxiliary function (supporting the dominant function) – ESTP, ENTP
• As a tertiary function – INFJ, ISFJ
• As an inferior function (most drained by) – ESFJ, ENFJ

What are it's characteristics and themes?

• Precision
• Clarity
• Dispassionate
• Analytic
• Diagnostic
• Calibration

For more about the cognitive functions and how to further develop their use check out Functions of Type: Activities for Developing the Eight Jungian Functions 

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) – Cognitive Functions

What Is It?

Extroverted intuition is an external “stimulus” perception function that gives us information based on the present environment via patterns and impressions, that gives us information in terms of ideas, interpretations and possibilities we can use to make decisions.

Who uses it?

• As a dominant function (most stimulated by) – ENTP, ENFP
• As a auxiliary function (supporting the dominant function) – INTP, INFP
• As a tertiary function – ESTJ, ESFJ
• As an inferior function (most drained by) – ISTJ, ISFJ

What are it's characteristics and themes?

• Creative Thinking
• Brainstorming
• Pattern Surfing
• Enthusiastic about possibilities
• Improvisation

For more about the cognitive functions and how to further develop their use check out Functions of Type: Activities for Developing the Eight Jungian Functions

Introverted Sensing (Si) – Cognitive Functions

What Is It?

Introverted Sensing (Si) is an internal “worldview” perception function that gives us information based on past experience using the 5 basic senses that we can use to make decisions.

Who uses it?

• As a dominant function (most stimulated by) – ISFJ, ISTJ
• As a auxiliary function (supporting the dominant function) – ESTJ, ESFJ
• As a tertiary function – INFP, INTP
• As an inferior function (most drained by) – ENFP, ENTP

What are it's characteristics and themes?

• Grounded
• Consistency
• Stability
• Practicality
• Specificity
• Maintenance
• Memory

For more about the cognitive functions and how to further develop their use check out Functions of Type: Activities for Developing the Eight Jungian Functions