There is such an anecdote: How to distinguish an extrovert from an introvert? - An introvert will be self-absorbed, have hobbies that can be pursued alone, will prefer to be at home with a book than at a party, most likely, he will only have a couple of close friends; he seems shy and indecisive, tends to think ahead, and is focused on his inner world. And the fact that a person is an extrovert will be told by his mouth not closing. - And the fact that a person is an extrovert will be told by his mouth not closing. Now seriously. I want to tell you an amusing story/parable of the analytical psychologist Carl Jung, which I read in a book Darel Sharp "Personality Types". So, here is a story that shows these two types. I will accompany my story with footage from the film “Lie Down in Bruges”: the two main characters are similar to the characters in our parable. Colin Farrell's character is an extrovert and Brendan Gleeson's is an introvert. Listen. A parable about an introvert and an extrovert. Two young men, an introvert and an extrovert, found themselves on a walk in the old city. A lonely medieval castle caught their attention. They became curious, they wanted to know what kind of castle it was. The introvert wondered what was inside: ancient books? Manuscripts? Sculptures? The extrovert was looking forward to another adventure: something unknown! Who knows, maybe in this castle he will meet a pretty girl! When our heroes came closer to the castle, it turned out that it was surrounded by a metal fence, and the entrance was guarded by a gate. The introvert immediately hesitated: “Well, they won’t let us in, the security there is evil, I suppose, and in general ordinary people can’t go there.” The extrovert was more optimistic: He imagined that he could easily come to an agreement with the guard. Well, if something happens, it will still work out somehow. There is nothing to be afraid of. Our extrovert was right! A good-natured guard came out to the young people and calmly opened the gate and let travelers through. And here are our heroes inside the castle. The introvert immediately noticed a table with ancient manuscripts, frescoes, stained glass windows and was completely immersed in them, even asked where the keeper of the library was. In general, he perked up. But the extrovert calmed down. The castle turned out to be a museum. It was quiet, calm and no adventures here. No pretty girl that the extrovert fantasized about in the castle. “It’s so interesting here!” I want to stay here for now! I’ll have to come back more often.” — the introvert was inspired. “Boring.” This is not at all for me, let’s get out of here,” the extrovert grumbled, his “natural liveliness” having disappeared somewhere. Such is the story. What happened? The introvert extroverted, and the extrovert, on the contrary, introverted. If before meeting with the castle they perfectly complemented each other, they were so-called “shadow brothers”, then upon entering the castle, their attitudes changed to the opposite. And they just did not understand each other, just as they did not understand before, before entering the castle . The antagonism, the opposition between the two types, remains the same. They didn’t even notice that they had become a reflection of each other again. This often happens in real life: an introvert who is happy to have a good party because he spent the whole week alone in his office. An extrovert who is tired of the world and dreams of a vacation in a house in nature all alone.