We tend to use them for somebody who is 'very withdrawn' even 'shy', on one hand, in contrast with somebody who is 'outgoing' on the other.
Carl Jung himself was both of these.
There was nothing 'withdrawn' about him when he entered into the public life or operated in the social sphere generally.
He was the kind of man that was naturally the center of attention, with a powerful charismatic presence and a warm, interesting, personable and engaging personality.
- These two terms in essence refer to our primarily energy sources!
By his own definition Jung was essentially an introvert in the purest sense.
Despite the fact he was also so 'outgoing'.
Indeed, in this purest sense Jung asserted there was a higher value in the 'introversion' source than the other.
These terms then refer to energy.
'Energy' has also become a central concept in the leading edge of science.
- Physics the study of 'nature' having reached a point of advancement when 'matter' is now understood as fundamentally fields of energy in itself.
- By analogy could we extend the meaning of these two sources of energy (i.e. 'psychic energy'; as in psyche's energy; the energy of 'Being') to denote an essential difference between 'religion' on the one hand and 'spirituality' on the other. That is, between a community of beliefs and devotees on the one hand (as in organised religion) and something more intimate, personal, less man-made, and potentially more truly transcendental on the other?
Of course "we are social animals" as indeed are most mammals.
Moreover we human-beings live in a very highly advanced, technological gee-whiz era. Ours, is a highly sophisticated environment in contrast with that of other lower creatures.
But outside our biology, our advanced man-made environments and the universal (perhaps even 'spiritual') fact of 'love' when then? Anything?
Being-in-the-World
Some lucky people may have been born with a 'silver spoon in their mouth'. While in the war-torn Middle-East where millions have had their lives ruined and uprooted, for them simply to live in a peaceful, relatively prosperous home like Germany or England is like having a silver spoon.
We treat each other with respect. We care for each other and take an interest in the other person's life, in their well-being, health and fortunes. We help others less fortunate than ourselves, when we can and as need arises. We find or seek happiness in our relationships, in family mainly and in good friends unconditionally. In the god of fame there's the allure of public adulation and recognition. In identifying with some famous person there is also some communal credit. We are social beings. We are human beings. And we call somebody a 'monster' when they act inhumane like ISIS or Hitler. We say 'they are not even human beings'.
All of which is the energy of 'extroversion'.
What then is the more enigmatic type?
