We all know people who are the life and soul of the party… and those who would rather do anything else than spend their weekend socialising. 

Often, individuals exhibit clear-cut emotional responses to various situations, aligning with two distinct personality groups: introverts and extroverts.

But now psychiatrists say there could be a third category—the ‘otrovert’. 

As explained by Dr. Rami Kaminski, a psychiatrist based in New York with years of experience studying personality types, extroverts may seem popular and outgoing, forming strong one-on-one relationships, yet they might find it challenging to feel a part of larger groups.

Though biology can partially predict whether someone will be introverted, extroverted, or even midway, specialists highlight that both genetics and environmental factors significantly shape our immediate reactions to specific circumstances.

Research indicates that up to 60 percent of personality traits are inherited, suggesting that the introspective tendencies of an introverted parent could potentially be passed on to their children.

‘However, the key is to understand your position on this spectrum and the reasons behind your reactions,’ senior psychotherapist Debbie Keenan explained to The Telegraph.

‘Self-awareness helps us manage difficult feelings, build positive relationships and improve confidence and resilience.’ 

Here we break down how to decipher which personality type you gravitate towards and what that could mean for your relationships…

Extroverts are described as living life to the full, wallowing in social interactions and recharging by spending time in a crowd

The Introvert

Typically, an introvert rejuvenates by spending time alone, flourishing in environments that allow them the opportunity to thoughtfully process and reflect on past events.

Not to be mistaken for a lack of confidence, which often stems from self-doubt, introverts know their worth and act accordingly, often viewing their time as a valuable currency, not to be wasted on things that don’t align with their values. 

Whilst introverts tend to prefer a close-knit small circle of friends, they are known to be caring and compassionate—even if sometimes they get caught up in their own head. 

And when it comes to love, the best thing for them can be space and calm.  

According to Ms Keenan, when it comes to their career, introverts are more likely to gravitate towards a job that allows them space for inwards contemplation, like a journalist, writer or designer, as beings who thrive on routine. 

And for introverts, it’s all about finding a way to manage stress and anxiety, Ms Keenen said. 

‘Stress is not something introverts handle well, and when pushed into an uncomfortable situation, they can go into a hyper state of anxiety.

‘An introvert is likely to have a smaller window of tolerance, so to function successfully, they may need to plan their movements ahead, set strong boundaries and understand they are biologically more sensitive to stimuli.’ 

Introverts however often value their alone time, losing themselves in silence and reaping energy from self-reflection 

The Extrovert 

The life of every party, a classic extrovert doesn’t need to be told twice that they’re outgoing. They already know. 

Often mistaken for adrenaline junkies, extroverts throw themselves into every experience sent their way. Perhaps unsurprisingly, extroverts have a stronger response to the feel-good hormone dopamine, which could explain why they tend to feel more positive more often. 

This makes them born leaders, driven by reward and ambition and never afraid to speak their mind. 

But, this zest for life can also be draining, for both the extroverts and those around them, Ms Keenan warned. 

‘In a work environment, this could be especially hard,’ she said. 

‘Extroverts can handle complex tasks, rev up group morale and deal well with stress, but they can be impulsive, get involved with risky behaviour and miss out on reflection.’

To really thrive in relationships, it would benefit extroverts to take a step back and consider the needs of those around them, she added. 

The term otrovert, coined from the Spanish for ‘other’, refers to people who appear popular, sociable and deeply invested in one-one-relationships but feel lonely in a crowd

The Otrovert 

The otrovert is a bundle of contradictions: a natural leader who would rather let others revel in the glory of their success; a people person who has no problem spending time alone. 

A high-flyer who tends to walk to the beat of their own drum—but could do with leaning on others from time to time. 

Mr Kaminski described otroverts as ‘soloists who cannot play in an orchestra.’ 

‘They are fiercely independent, happy to sit on the sidelines and neither need nor tolerate codependency,’ he added. 

And when it comes to relationships, for otroverts the cliche opposites attract doesn’t apply. 

‘In relationships they would get on well with other otroverts, as there would be no codependency,’ Ms Keenan explained. 

‘They would honour each other’s boundaries; there would be mutual respect. A huge plus is that otroverts are extremely proficient in nurturing intimacy.’