People are strange. I am socially awkward. I want “me” time. I am a private person. Wish I was an extrovert. These are some comments that we hear from people of all ages who avoid connecting to others. Fine. Everybody has their own personal tendencies, and these tendencies colour their behaviour and attitude.

The fact of the matter is that whatever the tendencies, the need for connecting at many levels and at many stages of life is ingrained in humans. Many categories of personality types are now popular, like MBTI types, but their origins belong to the psychologist Carl Jung’s basic categorization. He described these personality types in the early 1900s.

The theory was that the main difference between people is between the source and direction of their expression of energy. He suggested that two contrasting personality types, introverts versus extroverts, existed.

In general, it is said that an introvert is energized by being alone and prefers smaller groups of people, while an extrovert is energized by being around people. The introvert tendencies include keeping emotions to themselves and more on the avoidance confrontation style. Extroverts are more expressive and risk taking etc.

Most categorizations are inexact. However, the main component is the ability of people to connect with other people, especially who are different to you in person and in background.

The ability to connect........

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