The Extraverted Types As Social Introverts

It’s extremely common for extraverts to mistype as introverts. There are a couple different reasons for that, starting with the fact that a lot of personality theory content is written by introverts. Introverted content creators can fail to capture the extraverted experience correctly. They often depict extraverts as far more extreme than the average extravert is. Many people need some degree of downtime or alone time. While an extravert may enjoy the presence of people, they still typically recognize that their social battery has limits. Only the extreme (and likely unhealthy) extravert will be an exception to this rule. However, there is another reason why extraverts mistype as introverts.

Cognitive Extraversion Is Not Social Extraversion

Cognitive extraversion is not the same thing as social extraversion. By definition, cognitive extraverts lead with an extraverted cognitive function. In other words, the primary, or dominant, driver in an extravert’s life is an extraverted cognitive function. However, being a cognitive extravert doesn’t inherently mean that someone will be social. After all, interacting with people effectively (and effortlessly) requires social skills – and they’re called “skills” for a reason. Engaging any skill that you suck at will drain you. People mistakenly assume that all extraverts will have good social skills, and that’s just not true. Extraverts will have good social skills if they take the time to exercise their social skills (as will introverts).

The true meaning of cognitive extraversion is a focus on the external world, or a focus on “the object” (as Carl Jung put it), rather than “the subject”. The specific thing that each extravert focuses on in the external world will be dictated by which extraverted function that they’re leading with. Cognitive extraverts are often known for being socially extraverted because their external focus leads them into situations where they have to engage with people. They end up developing social skills as a result, or as a side effect. However, someone can outlet their extraverted function without being in the same room as other people.

Read More: Introversion vs. Extraversion, Objectivity vs. Subjectivity, What Is An Extravert REALLY, What Is An Introvert REALLY, Extraversion in Typology

So, What Do Extraverts Look Like As Social Introverts?

The majority of personality tests crutch on social extraversion as a means to identify extraverts. All an extravert has to do is express a distaste for people, and boom, they’re typed as an introvert. Admittedly, it can be difficult to peg a cognitive extravert as the extravert that they are when the social indicators are missing. But that’s the point of this article – to discuss how each extraverted function can be utilized in a socially introverted way.

The Extraverted Functions Acting Introverted

Bear in mind, that when an extravert is acting too much like an introvert, they might be in a grip state. This isn’t necessarily always going to be the case, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

Ne is the dominant function for the ENFP and the ENTP. ENFPs and ENTPs are often touted as the most introverted extraverts. To be honest, I’m not sure if I agree with that, because I think the other extraverted types are very prone to mistyping, which makes the data murky. Whereas, a lot of people mistype as ENXPs, especially people that associate intuition with being a misfit. But, that’s a tangent, so I’ll get back to the point.

Ne seeks novelty. Jung describes Ne dominants as feeling suffocated by stable conditions because they’re “always seeking out new possibilities”. In today’s world, the internet makes this extremely easy. Ne dominants can explore anything in the comfort of their own home. They go down the rabbit hole on Wikipedia, or deep dive any subject known to man, discarding the moment it becomes boring. If they get the inkling to do something a little more hands on, the Ne dominant can have just about anything delivered to their home, and immerse themselves in an exciting new project. People like to detach Ne from the sensory world, but ENPs often indulge in hands-on projects when something first gains their interest, as means of exploring it. It could be experimenting with cooking, learning an instrument, building a computer, building a trebuchet in the backyard, dabbling in programming, etc. None of this requires leaving the house and seeing people. Of course, people can be interacted with online, whether the ENXP is seeking friendship, debate, or topical discussions.

Extraverted Sensing (Se)

Se is the dominant function for the ESFP and the ESTP. People seem to struggle with the idea that ESFPs and ESTPs can be socially introverted, because people assume that sensors are always engaging with the real world. Well, to be fair, Se dominants are hands-on people, preferring the concrete and tangible, but they don’t need people to engage their senses.

Many ESXPs mistype as introverts because they engage primarily in solo activities. For instance, the adventurous or active Se dominant might hike or travel alone. However, dominant Se can also be expressed in the comfort of home. Similar to the ENXPs, Se dominants may have a variety of hobbies that they can engage in at home, because anything can be delivered to the house and indulged in. But, to be more specific, one way I’ve noticed ESXPs outletting their Se is through video games. Stereotypically, you might envision the male ESFP playing a First-Person Shooter for hours on end in a multiplayer, online, competitive setting. It allows them to tune into their instincts, think on their feet, react in a split second, and feel the rush if they succeed. That said, ESXPs can choose any genre of video game to immerse themselves in, one that satisfies the level of sensory experience that they’re looking for. There’s a wealth of options, in any setting that you can possibly imagine.

Extraverted Thinking (Te)

Te is the dominant function for ESTJs and ENTJs. In my opinion, the ESTJs and ENTJs are actually the most likely to see themselves as socially introverted, because Te is not a people oriented function. Jung actually describes Te dominants, in so far as they are pure types, as repressing any activities that are dependent on feeling, such as “aesthetic activities, taste, artistic sense, cultivation of friends, etc.”

Te desires structure, which often leads to a propensity for organizing, goal setting, and planning. Of course, when people think of ETJs, they think of managers, generals, and leaders. This stereotype obviously involves people, underlings, but an ETJ can position themselves for success in a role that doesn’t directly involve other people. In a more introverted sense, however, an ETJ can easily outlet Te in the privacy of their own home, similar to the other types. If the ETJ fits the workaholic stereotype, there are many skills that can be practiced at home, classes that can be taken online, etc. The ETJ could easily establish personal goals and milestones that they continually work towards without needing to involve other people. But ETJs aren’t always all about work. The aggressive ETJ might enjoy getting online and debating/correcting others as a way to feel dominant. The more casual ETJ could outlet Te through gaming. Games with clear leveling systems and progressions paths that provide a sense of continual accomplishment or success would appeal to Te.

Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

Fe is the dominant function for ESFJs and ENFJs. To be honest, this one was the hardest for to me imagine being socially introverted. In the past, I have had people ask for examples of how it could be possible, and I would struggle to produce a response that actually sounded like an answer. However, recently, it clicked into place for me, and I decided to write this article.

What I typically told people was that EFJs don’t always need large communities to be happy. Some EFJs prefer to stay within their close-knit circle of friends or within their immediate family, selecting these smaller groups as their “community”. In these instance, the EFJ may identify as a social introvert. (They could fail to branch out farther for a variety of reasons, such as struggling to find a sense of belonging or acceptance anywhere else.) However, the truly socially introverted way to outlet Fe is actually what I’ve been saying in all the other sections: the internet. These days, there is a wealth of online communities, catering to every niche you can possibly imagine. The socially introverted EFJ is likely to seek out one such community that not only makes them feel validated and accepted, but also provides a sense of purpose or worth. They’ll likely want to contribute to something, to help others, to give advice, or to somehow carve out a role for themselves among their chosen community.

In Conclusion

Of course, when writing this article, I was focusing on dominant users acting in an introverted way. However, someone might find themselves relating to one of these sections due to their auxiliary extraverted function. For instance, the ISTP, who is a true cognitive introvert, may relate to the dominant Se section. The key to determining whether you’re a true introvert or actually a socially introverted cognitive extravert is figuring out which cognitive function is taking priority.