Move over, introverts and extroverts – a new personality type is here!
For years, we’ve talked about two main personality types: introverts (quiet, reflective) and extroverts (social, outgoing). And a middle version — ambiverts — who share traits of both. But in 2025, a new type is gaining attention: the otrovert.
Coined by researchers studying modern social behavior, the term captures people who don’t quite fit into the neat binary of outgoing extroverts or reflective introverts. Think of people who crave connection, but often on unconventional terms – yep, that’s them, the otroverts!
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Intrigued yet? Read on to find out more about this new clan!
What is an Otrovert?
Coined by American psychiatrist Dr. Rami Kaminski, the word “otrovert” comes from the Spanish prefix “otro”, meaning “other.” True to its name, the otrovert represents “the other” personality type – people who resist the simple classification of being either introverted or extroverted.
Unlike introverts, otroverts don’t necessarily prefer solitude. Unlike extroverts, they don’t always thrive on endless social stimulation either. Instead, they’re the ones who feel excited to attend the party, but after two hours, quietly slip out the back door because the noise becomes overwhelming.
Otroverts crave connection, but on their own terms. They thrive in smaller, more authentic spaces and often dislike the performative aspects of socializing.
How to identify an otrovert
While studying this kind, researchers noticed a growing number of individuals in personality studies consistently failing to match traditional categories. These participants described themselves as “social outsiders” – they enjoy conversations but feel drained by forced small talk, they want meaningful connections but often avoid mainstream social rituals.
To put it more precisely – they feel “in between”; not shy, not loud, just… other.
Psychologists realized this wasn’t just ambiversion (a balance of introvert and extrovert traits), but something else entirely: a personality shaped by a desire for belonging while resisting conformity.
What traits otroverts have
In simpler terms, otroverts are playful but insightful – they choose to be wallflowers, but can be social butterflies as well.
They’re selective socializer. Otroverts don’t go to every event, but when they do, they’ll be the ones sparking deep conversation in the kitchen rather than dominating the dance floor. Moreover, they may show strong social skills, enjoy deep conversations, or work in teams – but the sense of being an observer remains. Think of it as someone who allows you to scale the walls around them, only to find the door to the chamber locked! For them, the outsider feeling doesn’t always come from shyness or anxiety. It springs from something more existential.
Otroverts prefer connection over crowd. Even when they’re liked, accepted, or popular, otroverts say they don’t feel at home in groups. They’d rather bond with three people over shared stories than network with thirty strangers.
They’re rebels at heart, but nurture an empathic mind. Because they are less focused on fitting in, otroverts are often more willing to question norms, think differently, or produce creative work that resists majority expectations. However, thanks to their compassion, they still care deeply about others’ feelings.
To sum it up: otroverts are energy shapeshifters; they can enjoy bursts of extroverted energy but need downtime that looks more like introversion.
How different are they from ambiverts
At first glance, otroverts may sound like ambiverts – the “in-between” category. But researchers suggest there’s a subtle distinction.
Ambiverts comfortably switch between introvert and extrovert modes depending on context. Otroverts, on the other hand, never feel fully comfortable in either mode. They’re more likely to see themselves as outsiders no matter where they go, because they resist social conventions themselves.
To give it more clarity: ambiverts fit in anywhere, while otroverts don’t always want to fit in at all.
Why yet another new ‘label’
The idea of the otrovert is more than just a new label – it reflects a growing awareness that human personality is messy, that many people float between or outside traditional identity lines. Psychologists believe naming the otrovert identity can provide validation for people who’ve long felt misunderstood.
In today’s hyper-connected digital age, social media often amplifies extroverted behavior like loud opinions, constant sharing, and influencer culture, leaving quieter and authentic interactions in the shadows. In this modern age of remote work, global migration, fluid identities (online/offline, digital communities), many of us grow up between cultures, social norms, languages, or identities, which can heighten feelings of “not belonging fully.”
In that era, labels sometimes can be freeing when they reduce the pressure to conform. If someone realizes, “I’m not antisocial – I’m an otrovert,” it reframes their experiences in a more compassionate light.
Besides, in therapy, understanding this personality type could help address feelings of alienation and encourage healthier social habits. On a cultural level, it might even inspire workplaces, schools, and families to value “outsider energy” as a strength rather than a flaw.
So if you’ve ever wondered why you love people but hate parties, why you crave closeness but avoid group chatter, or why you feel like an alien in both camps – you don’t necessarily have to feel “out of place” or “left out.” It’s not that you “don’t belong”; you might just be an otrovert. And far from being a misfit, that could be your superpower.