I’ve found that most people do not fit into separate water-tight categories. Everyone lies somewhere on a scale, and it’s kind of meaningless trying to pass judgement by declaring a person to be just one thing.
I, for example, am an Ambivert.
On the scale between Introversion and Extroversion, I lie somewhere in the middle, if online personality tests are to be believed. And even if I don’t put much stock in such tests, I realize it myself too now.
In the past, I would have usually described myself as an Introvert, which would prompt my friends to stare and say, “Yeah, right”, because when I’m in the mood I can talk a lot and engage in witty repartee, much like a very social person. But it’s afterwards, when I need a while to be alone and wind down from all the interaction, that makes me realize that I’m really not an Extrovert, however decent I might be at engaging with new people or just chatting nineteen-to-a-dozen when I want to.
It’s only recently that I came across the term ‘ambivert’ (yes, thank you Psychology, for never mentioning the thing) and it was like fireworks and flowers in bloom as I read through the description and I finally felt like someone understands me (I might be exaggerating, but it was a pretty amazing find).
Lifehack talks about it, and so does Buzzfeed.
And if those don’t make the mark, there are more professional sites which talk about it too.It’s as easy as googling ‘ambivert’, and then you wonder how you didn’t know of it before, because ohmygod it’s everywhere.
Point is, I still feel like I have to provide an explanation whenever I say I’m an ambivert, almost as if I’m trying to refute the fact that I sound so hipster-ish when I say it. Also, I think other people find it hard to classify ambiverts, because we’re not always outgoing and not always in our shell.
Sorry about that.
But it’s a daily struggle…
The Serious Butterfly 
Dude, I know exactly what you mean. We should start a club (we’ll have gatherings only when all members are in their sociable state, of course!).
Yus yus! It can be the Society of Optimistic Sceptics. Or Federation of Friendly Recluses :D
But but but I remember you being quite outgoing in school! Or maybe I’m just as bad at judging Ambiversion as others.
I thought you were quite outgoing too ;)
It’s more of a mood thing for me honestly. There are times when I like going out and meeting people, and then there are times when I just want to do my own thing.
I’m slowly realizing that it might be pretty hard to guess someone’s ambiversion, especially if you’re friends with them.