The psychology of gift-giving: Gift ideas for the introverts and extroverts in your life
Gift giving can be hard. Being an introvert or extrovert is an important part of a person’s personality, and using this knowledge to find a gift can make your search a lot easier.
Finding gifts for friends and family can be difficult. If you didn’t get all your Christmas shopping done during Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you’re probably scouring the internet for tips and lists that can give you ideas. Given how soon the holidays are, you might be so desperate that you’re looking into your closet to see if you can regift something. If those methods aren’t working for you, look to your loved one’s personality for guidance — specifically, if they are introverts or extroverts.
Knowing whether or not someone is an extrovert or introvert is a helpful tool for understanding oneself and others. Giving a gift based on the extroversion-introversion classification shows that you understand the needs of your loved ones and friends. You will be appealing to their biology and brain chemistry.
So how are introversion and extroversion defined? Introversion and extroversion are defined by how people gain their energy. Extroverts gain energy from being social with people and doing intense activities. Introverts gain energy from solitude and being able to hear and process their thoughts. Extroverts lose energy when they’re alone, while introverts recharge from a taxing day of socializing by being alone. Carl Jung classifies the two with these quotes:
"“ [Introversion] attitude-type characterized by orientation in life through subjective psychic contents.”“[Extroversion] -type characterized by the concentration of interest on the external object.”"
These two quotes point out that introversion is about looking at life through a psychic, inner lens and extroversion is about looking at life through an external, outer lens.
The psychology behind it
Neuropsychology can point to why and how people are extroverts and introverts. Genetics plays a factor in how our brains will develop. Extroverts process stimuli in the brain faster than introverts. This is the case because the pathway the stimuli travels through to reach the brain differs for introverts and extroverts. How people respond to dopamine, adrenaline, and acetylcholine plays into extroversion and introversion as well.
It’s important to know that most people aren’t purely introverts or extroverts. According to Carl Jung, “There is no such thing as a pure introvert or extrovert. Such a person would be in the lunatic asylum.” Everyone falls into different parts of the introversion-extroversion spectrum. If a person is more on the middle spectrum, they will be classified as an ambivert. Ambiverts can thrive around a lot of stimulation but also have the need to have some time alone, self-preservation. This article is only focusing on gifts for introverts and extroverts, but if you have any ambivert loved ones you have two lists to choose from.
These lists of gift ideas for introverts and extroverts were created based on the common traits for each personality type. The gifts on the introvert’s list were picked because they help deal with overwhelming stimulation. The gifts on the extrovert’s list were picked because they are experiences that will get extroverts energized and excited.
Gift ideas for introverts
Self-care subscription boxes: Introverts are usually exhausted from a long day of interacting with people. Incorporating self-care habits can help introverted people deal with the overwhelming aspects of life. Having a subscription box means you have different self-care items each month to try out. Some boxes include TheraBox ( a therapist-curated monthly subscription), Sweet Escape (bath salts and foot soaks, soaps, teas, and essential oils), and Hygge ( Danish lifestyle box of candles, face and eye masks, Scadi décor item, hot drinks, etc.).
An Audible subscription or gift card: Introverts love to conserve their energy by spending time in solitude and at home. They’re perfect candidates for Audible, an audiobook subscription service that gives them access to millions of audiobooks. You can give your introvert friend an Audible gift card as well. Audible gift cards come in 12-month, 6-month, and 3-month options. The 12-month plan is $150, The 6-month is $90, and the 3-month is $45.
Weighted blankets: Although extroverts and introverts can both experience anxiety, introverts are more likely to experience anxiety since they like to live in their heads. An introvert’s brain chemistry causes them to be more self-critical as well. If you have an introverted friend who has trouble going to sleep thanks to an anxious mind, a weighted blanket might help them get some rest. Weighted blankets work to reduce anxiety because, biologically, humans feel relaxed when they are under a weighted layer. It triggers serotonin, a happy chemical, and takes us back to being swaddled as a baby, which made us feel protected. Some of the best-weighted blanket brands include Chilla, Quilty, CuteKing, etc
Sound-canceling headphones: Sound-canceling headphones are useful for introverts who feel overwhelmed from busy trains, buses, and other loud places. You can find some great options on Amazon at reasonable prices. Some of the best options include the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones, COWIN E7 and E8 Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones, Sony WH-1000XM3 Noise-Canceling Headphones, and more.
Tabletop games: An introvert’s preference for being by themselves or only being around a select group of people is commonly misinterpreted as the workings of a shy person who doesn’t like people. What others don’t understand is that it’s an introvert’s way to conserve energy. Gifting your introverted loved one a boardgame or card game gives them the opportunity to throw a game night at their house for their close friends. Introverts enjoy being social with close friends or a small group of people. A game night is an intimate gathering your introverted friend won’t feel out of place attending. Some popular games to choose from are Cards Against Humanity, Monopoly, What Do You Meme, and Jenga.
Gift ideas for extroverts
A road trip: Plan a road trip for you and your extroverted friend. Explore a town or state you never visited. Plan what you’re going to do when you get to your destination or just wing it as you go along. The uncertainty can be really exciting for your extroverted friend.
Classes where you can learn a skill: There are so many classes you can take to build a skill. They’re also good places to make friends. Buy classes for your introverted friend so they can experience the great feeling of learning a new skill. Some ideas include improv classes, which are all about interacting with people, cooking classes, dance classes, and boxing. The Second City Training Center offers a drop-in class called Improv Test-Drive for people who just want to experience a taste of taking an improv class. Each class is $20. Groupon offers coupons for all types of classes.
Team-building games (paintball, escape rooms, etc.): Team-building games like paintball and escape rooms are adrenaline producing, but they also require you to work well in a group. Extroverts often love to be leaders and speak their minds, so they will shine in these scenarios. Give your friend the option to invite others to these events and give them the space to shine.
Amusement park tickets: Rollercoasters, games, junk food — everything a kid (and an adult) can ask for! Amusement parks have so much to see; they’re places where an extrovert can never get bored. Winning games and being dropped by roller coasters send a huge adrenaline rush, making attendees feel alive and happy. Some great amusement parks are Cedar Point, Six Flags, Wisconsin Dells, Universal Studios, Disneyland, and Disney World. Check each website to see if there are any deals available.
Next. 12 holiday gift ideas for the bookworm in your life. dark