You are invited to a large party. Loud music is playing, and lots of people are dancing. Groups of people are mingling with each other, making small talk about many different topics.
你被邀请参加一次大型聚会，现场播放着嘈杂的音乐，很多人都在跳舞。人群打成一片，就不同话题在闲聊。
What do you do? Do you mingle all night and talk to as many people as you can? Later, you cannot fall asleep -- you want more conversation!
你会怎么做？你是整晚都融入其中，和尽可能多人的聊天？然后你睡不着，因为你没聊够。
Or do you prefer to have one-on-one conversations with just a few people? Maybe you find a quiet corner and people-watch. Or perhaps you cannot wait to go home early and relax by yourself.
还是喜欢和少数人一对一交流？也许你会找一个安静的角落观察别人打发时间，或者可能你迫不及待地想早点回家并放松自己。
Which of these people sound most like you? Person A, who tries to talk to everyone and stays late? Or Person B, who prefers to talk to only a few people and leaves early?
这些人中哪个听起来最像你？试图和所有人聊天并玩到很晚的某甲，还是喜欢只和少数人聊天并早早离开的某乙？
If you said Person A, you are probably more extroverted. If you said Person B, you are probably more introverted. Or perhaps you are Person C and fall somewhere in the middle.
如果你回答某甲，你可能更外向。如果你回答某乙，你可能更内向。或者你是某丙，刚好处于外向和内向之间。
Introvert vs. extrovert
性格内向和外向
Introvert and extrovert are two commonly used words to describe a person's personality. And they are also commonly misused and misunderstood.
内向和外向是用于形容一个人的个性的两个常用的词。它们也经常被滥用和误解。
Introverts may be viewed as quiet, shy and timid. They may be called "wallflowers," meaning they are so quiet they blend in with flowers on the wallpaper.
内向的人可能被视为安静、害羞和胆怯。他们可能被称之为局外人，意思是他们如此安静，就像是墙纸上的花。
Extroverts may be viewed as bold, confident, loud and full of energy. They are often called "alpha," meaning a leader of the group.
外向的人可能被视为大胆、自信、吵闹并充满活力。他们通常被称之为阿尔法，意思是人群的领导者。
Introverted and extroverted people may fit those descriptions. But these same descriptions do not define introversion and extroversion properly.
内向和外向的人可能符合这些描述。但是这些描述并没有正确地定义出内向和外向。
Introverts and extroverts use their brains differently, and they get their energy differently. Introversion is the state of being mostly concerned with one's own mental life. Extroversion is the opposite. Extroversion is the state of being mostly concerned with what is outside oneself.
内向者和外向者的用脑方式不同，他们获得的精力也不同。内向是主要关注自己精神生活的这样一种状态。外向恰恰相反，它是主要关注他人的这样一种状态。
People who consider themselves introverts may say they "need to be alone to "charge their batteries" or that being in large crowds makes them tired. However, introverts may still love being social and going to parties. But such activities require time to prepare and time to repair.
自认为内向的人也许会说，他们需要独处给自己充电，或者身处人群让他们感觉很累。然而，内向者可能还是喜欢社交并参加聚会。但是这类活动需要时间准备和恢复。
Extroverts may say, "I don't need ‘alone time.' I feel more relaxed being around other people." Even so, extroverts can still feel unsure or not confident among other people.
外向者可能会说，“我不需要独处时间，和他人在一块我感觉更放松。”即便如此，外向者在人群中也会觉得不自信。
The power of introverts
内向者的力量
Susan Cain is the author of "Quiet: The Power of Introverts."
苏珊·凯因（Susan Cain）是《Quiet: The Power of Introverts》一书的作者。
In an article published in Psychology Today, she explains that shyness is often considered a synonym of introversion. It is not. Shyness is having a fear of being judged poorly by others. Introverts just prefer being in quiet environments.
她在《今日心理学》发表的一篇文章中解释说，害羞经常被认为是内向的代名词，不是这样。害羞是担心受到他人不好的评判。内向者只是喜欢处在安静的环境之中。
For example, Bill Gates, the inventor of Microsoft, is quiet and bookish, she writes. But Gates does not care about the opinions other people may have of him. He is an introvert, writes Cain, but he is not shy.
例如，微软公司创始人比尔·盖茨（Bill Gates）很安静，书生气十足，但是盖茨不关心别人对他的看法。他内向但是并不害羞，凯因这么写道。
The famous singer and actor Barbra Streisand has an outgoing, larger-than-life personality, adds Cain. But Barbra Streisand, she writes, also has a paralyzing case of stage fright. This is a commonly used fixed expression. Performers who suffer from stage fright can quite literally be frozen or paralyzed on stage.
她补充写道，著名歌手和演员芭芭拉·史翠珊（Barbra Streisand）具有外向、超群的个性。但是史翠珊也有怯场的时候。这是一种常用的固定表达。怯场的表演者简直就是冻结或瘫痪在舞台上。
Cain considers Babara Streisand a shy extrovert.
凯因认为史翠珊是害羞的外向者。
In other words, there are nervous introverts and calm extroverts. And there are also shy extroverts and bold introverts. And there are many other combinations in between.
换句话说，世界上存在着紧张的内向者和冷静的外向者，但是也有害羞的外向者和大胆的内向者。在它们之中还有很多其它组合。
I'm Anna Matteo.
我是安娜·马特奥。(51VOA.COM对本文翻译保留全部权利，未经授权请勿转载，违者必究！)