There are even significant differences between extroverts and introverts that are emotionally stable. Those who are emotionally stable, but introverted are often found to be: passive, careful, thoughtful, peaceful, controlled, reliable, even-tempered, and calm. While their extroverted, emotionally stable peers are often found to be: sociable, outgoing, talkative, responsive, easygoing, lively, carefree, and in positions of leadership (Hockenberry & Hockenberry, 2004, p. 418).
These individuals are typically upbeat, optimistic and sociable, and experience more positive emotions each day than introverted peers. Canli et al., in 2001, conducted a study of 14 healthy female volunteers. During their study the participants were shown both positive and negative images.
Those who scored higher on the extraversion scale experienced more reactivity to positive images, while those women with higher levels of neuroticism had more reactivity to the negative images. These findings supported the theory that the differences in personality traits produce different reactions in the brain (as cited in Hockenberry & Hockenberry, 2004, p. 419).
Libkuman et al. (1998) found that there were differences between the two personality types and the type of stimuli that would influence the accessibility of information that was stored in memory. They theorized that stable extroverted individuals were influenced by semantic stimuli, and that neurotic introverted individuals were influenced by physical, such as graphic, phonetic or both, stimuli (p. 367).
The difference between introverts and extraverts is quite profound. Most...
Campbell and Hawley's study was quite telling in these differences. In a natural setting for the college students studied, it was strong support for the previous theory. These students naturally migrated to environments that allowed them to find optimal levels of stimulation.
This tendency to seek out different environments is only one of the differences between the two personalities. Even when complimentary factors, such as emotional stability or instability, come into play the underlying extravert or introvert tendencies significantly alter the individual's personality traits. And, the actual chemical responses in the brain differ dramatically between extraverted and introverted personalities. These personality types not only illicit different emotional responses, in the form of personality traits, but also physical responses in choices of environment, and chemical responses within the individual's brain.
References
Hockenberry, D. & Hockenberry, S. (2004). Discovering psychology. New York: Worth Publishing.
Libkuman, J., Wines, W., Dickel, M., & Doty, K. (Oct 1998). Individual differences in arousal and accessibility to information in memory. The Journal of General Psychology, 125(4). Retrieved July 26, 2005, from InfoTrac database.
Woodward, S., McManis, M., Kagan, J., Deldin, P., Snidman, N., Lewis, M., & Kahn, V. (1 Jul 2001). Infant temperament and the brainstem auditory evoked response in later childhood.…
