Introversion

1. Etymology

Introversion names a mode of psychological orientation in which the movement of energy is toward the inner world. Compare extraversion; related: subject vs object; typology; libido gradient.

2. Plain summary

Introversion means the subject comes first—the outer object second. An introverted consciousness can know the outer world well and still not be primarily motivated by it. In crowds the extreme introvert feels lost; their own carefully tended inner harbor is safest.

Jung held both attitudes present in everyone, with one dominant—often visible early in childhood as reflective manner and resistance to alien rule. Related to consciousness style and to the four functions (thinking, feeling, sensation, intuition) that further specify type.

Examples (exhaustive house list for this Index lemma — common introversion-related figures and motifs named across Jung’s essays and standard Jungian lexica; not a claim that Jung’s CW contains only these):
energy toward inner world; subject prime / object secondary; own decisions and convictions; not motivated primarily by external conditions; loneliness in large gatherings; resistance to bustle; walled garden / safe harbour; child reflective and resistant to outside influence; complementary to extraversion; one attitude dominant; pairs with superior function; compensation by unconscious extraversion when extreme; persona vs inner life; individuation needing both poles.

3. Academic elucidation

4. Lexicon

Sharp (1991)

Introversion. A mode of psychological orientation where the movement of energy is toward the inner world. … the subject is the prime motivating factor and that the object is of secondary importance. … An introverted consciousness can be well aware of external conditions, but is not motivated by them…

(Sharp, 1991, p. [provisional — unverified])

typology … Some individuals are more excited or energised by the internal world and others by the external world; these are introverts and extraverts respectively… in addition… thinking, feeling, sensation, intuition…

5. CW concordance — sample, not exhaustive

INTROVERSION means an inward-turning of libido, in the sense of a negative relation of subject to object. Interest does not move towards the object but withdraws from it into the subject. Everyone whose attitude is introverted thinks, feels, and acts in a way that clearly demonstrates that the subject is the prime motivating factor and that the object is of secondary importance.

…“I know I could give my father the greatest pleasure if I did so and so, but I don’t happen to think that way.” … This attitude characterizes a group of individuals whose motivations are derived chiefly from the subject, from inner necessity.

Introversion, on the other hand, being directed not to the object but to the subject, and not being oriented by the object, is not so easy to put into perspective. The introvert is not forthcoming, he is as though in continual retreat before the object. He holds aloof from external happenings, does not join in, has a distinct dislike of society as soon as he finds himself among too many people.

See also: extraversion; consciousness; libido; ego; compensation; persona; individuation; opposites. (Queued — typology, feeling, sensation, intuition.)

References

Jung, C. G. (1971). Psychological types. In H. Read, M. Fordham, G. Adler, & W. McGuire (Eds.), The collected works of C. G. Jung (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.) (Vol. 6, pp. 626, 701–702, 749, ¶¶769, 893–894, 976). Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1921)

Samuels, A., Shorter, B., & Plaut, F. (1986). A critical dictionary of Jungian analysis. Routledge.

Sharp, D. (1991). Jung lexicon: A primer of terms & concepts. Inner City Books.