Otrovert - the Personality of Otherness

No matter whether one is from the field of psychology or not, the idea of Personality and its types have fascinated all and for several millennia at that.

From Hippocrates (c. 400 BCE) and later Galen (c. 150 CE) in ancient Greece to Carl Jung (1921) and Hans Eysenck (1979) in the 20th Century, personality types have been studied and classified into a number of categories, on the basis of several factors – physical attributes, the influence of body fluids, cognitive styles – to name a few.

It was Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist, who introduced the concepts of Extraversion and Introversion in his theory of “Psychological Types” in 1921, where he explained that Extraversion and Introversion are dimensions of personality traits that primarily differ on the basis of their sources of energy. According to Jung, while Extraverts derive energy from external activities like interaction with others and the external environment, Introverts derive energy from internal thoughts like reflection, inner feelings, ideas, and experiences.

Then came the concept of Ambiversion. Seated in the middle of the two poles of Extraversion and Introversion, Ambiversion was first proposed by US psychologist Edmund Smith Conklin in 1923. The concept was later popularly accepted in 2013 after another US psychologist, Adam Grant, published research suggesting a mix of introverted and extraverted tendencies in people (Jarrett, 2022. BBC Science Focus).

Everyone seemed to fit right in. Or so was thought.

Until New York psychiatrist Dr. Rami Kaminski proposed a personality type that had remained hidden. Introduced in his 2025 book, The Gift of Not Belonging, Dr. Kaminski addressed what many individuals described as a sense of not belonging, of being an outsider in group settings. However, Dr. Kaminski did not just see it as being an outsider. Instead, he saw it as the trait of ‘otherness’.

The Otherness Institute, founded by Dr. Kaminski in 2023, defines an Otrovert as someone who “embodies the personality trait of ‘otherness’ remaining an eternal outsider amidst humanity's shift from solitude to social connection through language.”

Dr. Kaminski, in his book, explains, "Extroverts and introverts are inherently communal, while the otrovert is an outsider to the group. In itself, it is not a problem or condition, nor is it a diagnostic label. It simply means that while most people learn to develop a sense of belonging to a specific group through social conditioning, otroverts remain social but not communal."

It can easily be misunderstood as a “clinical relational disorders” such as neurodivergence, or personality disorders. However, being an otrovert doesn’t equate to having a psychiatric diagnosis or neurodevelopmental difference or any other condition that may explain why otroverts move through life feeling as if they don’t fit in.

The core difference lies in their different way of relating to others. Instead of forging a sense of self in their relation to others, they experience life outside of the “communal hive”. They simply do not feel a sense of belongingness to any group. Hence, instead of joining in, they stay outside.

In Dr. Kaminski’s words, “... otroverts are socially embraced and often popular ― yet are unable to conform with what the group collectively thinks or cares about…”

Described as ‘perpetual outsiders’, otroverts have traits that make them seem like ambiverts. They are friendly and outgoing but only in doses. They are not socially maladjusted or socially anxious, and are not necessarily shy. They crave alone time but too much of it can make them feel restless. They are selectively social, valuing quality over quantity.

Yet, unlike ambiverts, who comfortably shift between social settings (extravert mode) and solitary spaces (introvert mode), otroverts never really experience comfort on either end and always find themselves on the margins. Their disengagement or ‘otherness’ persists even in environments that match their preferences.

The Otherness Institute clubs the numerous traits of Otroverts into the following categories:

★ Non-Belonging

★ Difficulties with Group or Communal Norms

★ Free Thinking

★ Intense Need for Privacy

★ Observable Behaviors and Mannerism

As suggested by the name of his book itself, Dr. Kaminski views this ‘otherness’ as a gift rather than a hindrance or difficulty. He emphasises that otroverts are inherently independent and free thinkers, who are also emotionally independent. He names original thinkers of the past – Frida Kahlo, Franz Kafka, Albert Einstein, George Orwell – who could have been otroverts (The Guardian, 2025).

With his book and institute, Dr. Kaminski aims to spread awareness about otherness, as it may lead to misunderstanding and misdiagnosing of individuals, making them feel strange, lonely, and unwelcome in groups which can result in a frustrating, futile life.

If the idea of Otroverts and Otherness has intrigued you enough to tickle your curiosity to see if you are one, you can always take the quiz at https://www.othernessinstitute.com/the-otherness-scale/ to find out.

Of course, the concept isn’t without criticism. With discussions, both for and against, abuzz on the internet, several experts and non-experts see it as a fresh take on personality dynamic, outside of Jung’s conventional labels or “boxed-types”, while some see it as just another fancy term or label to describe one out of the already existing 16 personality types as assessed by Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment, based on the Jungian theory. (Read: https://www.truity.com/blog/new-term-otrovert-really-just-description-healthy-infjs)

Whether the concept of Otherness will be accepted and celebrated by the big names in the field of mental health is yet to be seen. Even so, what remains true is the fact that new research, studies and findings in the field of psychology and mental health not only bring helpful and much needed changes and awareness but also opens up the gateway to newer concepts, ideas and understanding to the ever mysterious and fascinating world of human mind and behaviour.

Let's stay healthy, not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well!

With a pinch (or a lot) of curiosity.

~Mrinmoyee Saha

Counselling Psychologist