Psychiatrists may have found a new piece in the puzzle of human personality. Introducing the “otrovert” — a term coined by psychiatrist Rami Kaminski to describe people who don’t fit neatly into the classic categories of introvert or extrovert. Instead, Otroverts are emotionally independent, resistant to social mirroring, and oriented in a completely different direction than those around them.
Kaminski, who initially introduced the idea in New Scientist and further explores it in his forthcoming book The Gift of Not Belonging: How Outsiders Thrive in a World of Joiners, says this personality type is both real and common — though often misunderstood. The word “otrovert” comes from the Spanish otro, meaning “other”, paired with the psychological suffix “-vert” to denote orientation. Originally born as a joke among his team, the idea evolved through clinical observation and personal reflection.
Unlike introverts who draw energy from solitude or extroverts who thrive in social settings, otroverts appear to operate on an entirely different emotional axis. They tend not to absorb the emotional states of those around them — something Kaminski calls resistance to the “Bluetooth phenomenon,” where people emotionally pair with those nearby. Instead, otroverts maintain a distinct internal emotional tone, often allowing them to remain calm and clear-thinking in high-emotion group settings. This, Kaminski argues, can foster originality, critical thinking, and a deep sense of personal integrity.
He recounts a childhood memory — standing in a scout uniform, saying the pledge while others around him were visibly moved. He, by contrast, felt nothing. Not out of indifference, but because he didn’t emotionally sync with the group. It was a moment that, in hindsight, revealed the traits of an otrovert.
Kaminski believes many famous figures may have shared this disposition — including Frida Kahlo, Franz Kafka, Albert Einstein, and George Orwell. These individuals often stood emotionally apart from their peers, and their distance may have enabled some of their most revolutionary insights.
Although being an otrovert can come with social challenges — especially during adolescence, when belonging feels paramount — Kaminski sees it as a potential strength. He stresses that what is often labeled as emotional detachment or even dysfunction could actually be a gift. Rather than pathologizing this trait, he urges educators, therapists, and families to see it as a unique emotional and cognitive orientation, one deserving of understanding and support.
Kaminski is now calling for more research into the origins and mechanisms of this personality type, hoping that future studies will uncover how otroversion develops and how it can be nurtured in a world still largely oriented toward joiners.
As the psychological community begins to engage with this idea, the question remains: Are you an otrovert — and what could that mean for how you think, feel, and connect with the world?
