Otrovert: The New Personality Type That Will Make Your Life Even More Confusing

Thought you knew yourself? Forget introverts and extroverts—there’s a new way to categorize people in town: “otrovert.” Yes, the name might sound strange, but if you love order, are punctual, and carefully choose what to order for takeout, you probably know the feeling when someone jokingly says, “Don’t be so anal.”

Thought you knew yourself? Forget introverts and extroverts—there’s a new way to categorize people in town: “otrovert.” Yes, the name might sound strange, but if you love order, are punctual, and carefully choose what to order for takeout, you probably know the feeling when someone jokingly says, “Don’t be so anal.”

The term was introduced this year by New York psychiatrist Dr. Rami Kaminski. An otrovert is someone who avoids noisy crowds, values deep connections, prioritizes authenticity, and prides themselves on original thinking. Essentially, they are the modern-day “Groucho Marxes”: you want to be part of the world, but the world doesn’t always agree with you.

The idea of classifying people by personality type dates back to antiquity: Hippocrates in the 5th century BCE distinguished four temperaments, and the mystics of that era created the enduring astrological signs. Modern psychiatry went further: in 1952, the DSM was created to systematize psychological diagnoses. Today, millions of people recognize themselves in these classifications.

Modern social networks like TikTok and Instagram make it simpler (and at the same time more confusing): young people self-diagnose, often ignoring professional help. But here’s the catch: the more a person identifies with a label—introvert, extrovert, otrovert—the more they limit their own self-perception and potential.

Carl Jung warned that introvert and extrovert are not boxes, but tools. To grow, it’s better to develop the aspects of your personality that are still underdeveloped. Otrovert is simply a new way to look at yourself from the outside, not a complete characterization.

Ironically, reading about otroverts, I feel like I might be one myself. On the other hand, I’m also a Taurus. But really, I’m Aaron, and that’s more than enough to understand myself without any labels.

So forget strict divisions between introverts and extroverts. The world is too complex to fit people into boxes. New terms like otrovert simply remind us: the most important thing is to stay true to yourself and not be afraid to explore your own boundaries.