Introversion, Extraversion and Social Perception

Three studies are conducted on the subjective perceptions of extraverts and introverts, using Q technique and factor analysis. In the first two studies, intensive analyses indicate that both introverts and extraverts have extraverted aspirations. These results are confirmed and extended in the third study with a larger sample of subjects. Both introverts and extraverts have veridical perceptions of actual private self and actual social self; however, the ideal conceptions of both personality types tend to be extraverted in nature. Introverts express their potential private self, potential social self and ideal leader perceptions as those of an extravert; similarly, extraverted subjects hold extraverted ideals. Extraverts are highly consistent in their perceptions of actual and ideal selves, but introverts have ideals incongruent with perceived actual selves. Implications for political theory and behaviour, interpersonal perception and attraction are discussed.