Personality types: Jung's model of typology - Inner City Books

Introversion and the Four Functions 69Naturally this takes a great deal of energy. A tremendousinner struggle is needed all the time in order to keep going.Thus the introvert is particularly prone to psychasthenia, "amalady," notes Jung, "characterized on the one hand by extremesensitivity and on the other by great proneness to exhaustionand chronic fatigue." 81In less extreme cases, introverts are simply more conservativethan not: they husband their energy and would rather stayput than run about. But due to the habitual subjective orientation,there may also be a noticeable degree of ego inflation,coupled with an unconscious power drive.Although Jung recognized the "peculiarities" of the introvert,especially as judged by the extraverted attitude, he alsopointed out that the introvert "is by no means a social loss.His retreat into himself is not a final renunciation of theworld, but a search for quietude, where alone it is possible forhim to make his contribution to the life of the community." 82In addition, whereas the extravert tends to avoid introspection,"self-communings," writes Jung, are a pleasure forthe introvert:He feels at home in his world, where the only changes aremade by himself. His best work is done with his own resources,on his own initiative, and in his own way. If ever hesucceeds, after long and often wearisome struggles, in assimilatingsomething alien to himself, he is capable of turning it toexcellent account. 83The Introverted Thinking Type81 Ibid., par. 626.82 Ibid., par. 979.83 Ibid., par. 977.