Current research on ambivert personality is still insufficient, but the fact is that most people do not belong entirely to either the introverted or extroverted group. Generally, they fall between these two personalities, rather than being the often mentioned "I-person" or "E-person".

Leonard Bell lives in a small town in Germany and is a graphic designer. He always finds topics to talk about and becomes the life of the party. Even if he goes to a bar alone, he can easily make new friends. However, he also enjoys the peaceful moments at home, closing the door to enjoy tranquility. For example, after spending time with his friends, he also longs for uninterrupted private time. Bell is a typical ambivert, not completely extroverted nor completely introverted.

The general view is that introverted people (I-people) get their energy from being alone, while extroverted people (E-people) draw energy from social interaction. Introverted individuals might feel pressured by others, while extroverts enjoy the company of people. But for someone like Bell, these are not absolutes. Sometimes he feels relaxed and happy in a crowd, but at other times, socializing can also be stressful for him.

Bell is not an exception. Jens Asendorpf, a personality research specialist at Humboldt University of Berlin, points out: "90% of people are between introverted and extroverted." Those who seem extroverted occasionally need time alone, and even introverted people sometimes seek social interaction. In other words, the majority of people might belong to "A-people" (ambivert).

However, it is not easy to make a clear distinction between "I-people," "E-people," and "A-people." Psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman states that there is no clear definition that distinguishes ambivert from the other two personality types. If you plotted personality traits on a continuum, you would find that most people are in the middle of the spectrum, with very few at the extreme ends. From a statistical perspective, the distribution of human personalities conforms to the normal distribution law. Apart from introverted, extroverted, and ambivert, more dimensions of personality are also likely to exist. Kaufman mentions, "You can create more subcategories, like mildly extroverted and mildly introverted."

Is the ambivert personality the optimal choice? As a typical "A-person," Bell exhibits certain characteristics of both "E-people" and "I-people": If friends suddenly invite him out on a Friday night, he can get ready to go out quickly. But if no one comes to find him, Bell equally enjoys his alone time, watching TV shows or painting, and feeling the joy of solitude. Kaufman believes that ambivert personalities are generally more flexible in their mindset, which is extremely beneficial in everyday life.

In conclusion, Kaufman believes that there is no absolute superiority or inferiority among these three personality types; each has its unique value and strengths.

Contrary to this, many existing studies tend to focus on personality types that are clearly introverted or extroverted. While there has been no shortage of research on this topic, studies on the approximately 50% of the population that fall in the middle of the personality trait spectrum are relatively scarce. This has caught the attention of Kaufman, who believes: "A comprehensive analysis of all data is crucial for scientific research, yet many researchers tend to simplify complex issues, seeking straightforward answers to explain how people perceive, think, and behave." Clearly, focusing on studies of extreme types may make the research more convenient, but this overlooks a large group in the middle of the personality spectrum.

There are common misconceptions about introverted and extroverted personalities that need to be corrected through finer insights. For example, many people mistakenly equate introversion with shyness, anti-social behavior, or even social anxiety. Asendorpf points out: "It has nothing to do with social phobia,” in fact, as described in his book "Personality Psychology," introverts simply prefer solitude.

On the other hand, if the existence of ambivert personalities goes unrecognized, people may tend to wrongly categorize themselves or others as extreme introverts or extroverts. This approach can intensify the mistaken belief in personality determinism and consider personality as immutable. In the process, people may overlook the complexity of human personality, and "these complexities include many contradictory personality traits," as stated by Kaufman. In reality, personality is changeable. An analysis conducted in 2000 showed that as people age, their position on personality dimensions such as introversion and extraversion might change. While personality traits tend to stabilize with age, they usually do not reach a more stable state until after the age of 50.

No matter what an individual's personality is, the best practice is to focus on the positive aspects of personality traits. "As research shows, the first step toward happiness is to accept oneself," Kaufman points out. Bell's experience offers us a reference, as an ordinary person who is neither extremely extroverted nor extremely introverted, he has no problems expressing his views. He grew up in a large family and never had his own room until the age of 11, so he was accustomed to being surrounded by people. Even so, Bell still clearly remembers how as a child, he would make an effort to secure some alone time. Whenever his family was preoccupied, he would take the dog for a walk. Now, when he needs solitude, being close to nature is the best way for him. Whether it's work stress or a busy meeting schedule, short periods of isolation are crucial for Bell. "What's most important is that I can live at a natural pace following my heart," he says.