INBETWEEN The otrovert: the unique personality type beyond introverts and extroverts

HAVE you ever felt like you don’t quite fit neatly into the “introvert” or “extrovert” box? Maybe you're friendly and enjoy one-on-one conversations, but group settings leave you feeling out of place.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

Think about when you meet a friend for a cosy coffee chat, sharing deep thoughts and experiences, and relish the moment, yet when it comes to attending big parties, you feel the urge to stay home.

If that sounds familiar, you might just be an otrovert, a term that’s gaining attention for describing the “in-between” personality that many of us have long struggled to explain.

For years, personality discourse has been framed around introverts versus extroverts, leaving those who don’t neatly fit either side confused or unseen.

But as the idea of otroversion enters the neurodivergent space, it’s offering a new mirror, one that reflects the value of independence, emotional depth, and original thought.

Dr Rami Kaminski, a psychiatrist, first introduced the idea of otroverts, using the Spanish word “otro”, meaning “other”.

While the term “otrovert” is not yet officially recognised in scientific literature, it has gained traction in popular psychology as a way to describe personalities that don't fit neatly into the traditional introvert-extrovert spectrum.