Introversion and Extroversion on the Autism Scale

A lot of people believe that introversion is the opposite of extroversion but a researcher believe it otherwise. Researcher named Jennifer Grimes conducted a study showing that these two personality traits are unrelated to one another. Also, her in-depth research backed up her proposal that these traits are actually on the autism scale.

The energy model of introversion/extroversion proposed by Carl Jung presented that introverts direct their psychic energy inwards and extroverts, outwards. His explanatory model corresponded about how being with people drains introverts while it energizes extroverts. Other than that, Jung believe that introversion and extroversion is on a continuum, with extreme introversion on one end and extreme extroversion on another.

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Grimes wanted to discover more about Jung’s model and to conduct a psychometric test in quest of knowing what is at the core of introversion/extroversion. Moreover, Grimes alongside with her mentor Jonathan Cheek and co-researcher Julie Norem developed a four-factor model of introversion categorizing it into social introversion (prefers solitude to people), thinking introversion (reflective and introspective), anxious introversion (shy and ruminative) and inhibited introversion (resists new experiences). Furthermore, her theories are correlated with the use of Baron-Cohen Autism Spectrum Quotient. Depending on how much data of each factors have including how people interact with other personality traits, the result can either be simply introverted/extroverted or it can move along/further the continuum, have Asperger’s syndrome or autism. Most introverts know how to socialize easily but strongly prefers not to. However, there are some people who are considered to be introverts due to shyness, social phobia or even avoidant personality disorder. This kind of trait is almost similar to Asperger’s disorder but to the extreme where there is a real difficulty with social and communication skills.

Grimes’ theory pinning down the slippery definition of introversion might help people to gain deeper understanding of autism.