I, Ambivert

I've been tested for introversion or extroversion several times in my life, even by professionals. The results have always been the same: I have strong characteristics of both personality types.

That's always made sense to me because I do enjoy being in groups and enjoy being by myself. In fact, I need to alternate those situations to be happy. One strange way this plays out, though, is that I'm perfectly fine with my own thoughts but tend to think in a conversational manner.

This came up in conversation, recently, because it's one of my go-to topics when I first get to know someone. It's always seemed interesting because I've never heard of anyone else with a mix of the two traits. While talking about it, I realized I've never done any casual research into this. No one's ever suggested it was a problem being a mix of the two types or made me feel like a freak, but I was surprised that I never looked into it just out of intellectual curiosity and self-interest.

Thanks to Wikipedia, I found there is a term for it: ambiversion.

There's a common joyous response to discovering you are not alone, that there is a term for something that describes you. I never expect to have that response. I did have that response to discovering I'm an ambivert.

Most people think of introversion and extroversion as an either/or proposal, which it was in Carl Jung's original theories. Like most of Jung's theories, that's been refined more recently and the possibility and a name for being in the middle of the spectrum was introduced. (Thanks, again, Wikipedia.)

There isn't much information about ambiversion that I could find. It doesn't even have it's own page on Wikipedia. I did find a few personal experience essays about being ambiverted, but they were kind of dumb. What I was really wondering is if anyone else who is ambiverted thinks in conversation, but I haven't found anything pertaining to that. (Note: Even Blogger's spellcheck doesn't recognize "ambivert," while it does recognize "introvert" and "extrovert.")

Oh well. It's still satisfying to learn something about myself, and a new word to use when I talk to myself about myself.

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German is a useful and entertaining language.

Take “schadenfreude.” It’s German for “pleasure in the misfortune of others.” Being full of schadenfreude may not be an attractive trait, but who hasn’t experienced that? I’m sure it’s a pretty common human experience. It’s a useful word. Also, it’s a surprisingly pleasant sounding word for being Germanic. What’s really important, though, is that there is no English word equivalent to “schadenfreude.”

“Schadenfreude” needs to find it’s way into everyday English usage. It has found it’s way to some extent, but not as much as it should. I keep thinking of it as overly used and trendy word--which does seem inevitable--but I swear I have to keep explaining it. Sometimes more than once.

Come on, people! Lisa Simpson explained it to Homer almost a decade ago! If that isn’t a free ride into the layperson’s lexicon, what is?

There’s a couple of German words I love because they’re funny and sound like an old Vaudevillian speaking fake German. “Puppenspiel” means “puppetry,” or literally “doll play.” “Pulverkaffee” is German for “instant coffee.” Honestly, if you asked someone what German for puppetry is, would you take “puppenspiel” seriously? If I could work it into everyday conversation, though, I would.

Anyway, I have a new favorite German word: “backpfeifengesicht.” It’s probably my new favorite word period. It means “a face that needs punched.” How great is that? And how useful!? I’m probably extra excited by this word because there’s a certain someone I’ve been dealing with lately that really needs her fiefing face punched. Who doesn’t have one or more people like that in their lives?

It’s a little hard to learn to pronounce, but I did find a nice pronunciation guide. (I especially like the male German’s voice.) One drawback to the word someone pointed out to me is that it kind of sounds like one is saying “butt fucking dyke” when saying “backpfeifengesicht.” That’s a small price to pay. Plus, it does make it a little easier to remember.

I originally learned “backpfeifengesicht” from this article at Cracked.com. Cracked.com is one of my favorite sites. I read it way too much, and I suggest you do, too.