 Introversion and Extroversion as CHOICE
in·tro·vert /n., adj.
1. a shy person.
2. Psychology. a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings (opposed to extrovert).
3. Zoology. a part that is or can be introverted.
–adjective 4. Psychology. marked by introversion.
–verb (used with object) 5. to turn inward: to introvert one's anger.
6. Psychology. to direct (the mind, one's interest, etc.) partly to things within the self.
7. Anatomy, Zoology. to turn (a hollow, cylindrical structure) in on itself; invaginate.
I just don't buy it when people say that introversion or extroversion is a fixed personality trait.
Look at the definition of 'introvert.' A person is characterized by a concern because that person holds that concern, not because that's "just the way she is." Hold a different concern, and you can be characterized another way! The other psychological definition, the verb, is an action; if one directs the mind or one's interest to things outside one's self, the definition no longer (or only partially) applies.
In zoology, ok, you're either invaginated or not (and even that can be changed with surgery!) But psychologically, you can switch back and forth from being inwardly and outwardly focused. You might have a tendency one way or the other, but it's not something you can't transform.
All it takes it choice and action.
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