Extraversion: Definition, Types, & Signs

What Is Extraversion?

Extraversion is more than being someone who just likes to talk to others. It is a personality trait characterized by those who are motivated by social stimuli. Extroverts draw energy from being around others, talking, and socializing. “Extroverts have a preference for seeking, engaging in, and enjoying social interactions.”¹

The concept of extraversion was proposed in the early 1920s by psychologist Carl Jung, who theorized that people get energy either from being with others (extraversion) or from being alone, such as those who experience more introversion.

Measuring Extraversion

Like most of the Big Five personality traits, extraversion occurs on a sliding scale. Therefore, people may be higher or lower in their extraversion, with most of us landing somewhere in the middle.

For those interested in learning more about their personality traits, there are some personality tests that measure extraversion. One well known one is the Eysenck Personality Inventory or EPI, which measures the dimensions of one’s personality.²

Traits of High Extraversion

Most people can quickly bring to mind some of the stereotypes of those who we consider extraverted. In our culture, having high extraversion is generally considered positive and is reinforced through our customs and social expectations. However, there is much more to people high in extraversion.

Traits of those with high extraversion include:

• Confidence
• Assertive
• Cheerful
• Action oriented
• Sensory seeking
• Enjoy being center of attention
• Talkative
• Enjoy discussing ideas
• Risk takers
• Enjoy social events

Traits of Low Extraversion

Like those high in extraversion, many people can easily bring to mind stereotypes of people low in extraversion. In our culture, low extraversion is generally considered negative, with many introverted people thought of as being rude or standoffish. However, there is much more to people low in extraversion.

Traits of those with low extraversion include:

• Introspective
• Reserved
• Calm
• Quiet
• Enjoying deep conversations
• Enjoying quiet time
• Preferring small groups or 1:1 to large groups
• Enjoying social activity such as reading and writing
• Struggling with small talk
• Dislike speaking in large groups
• Discomfort with being center of attention

How Extraversion Develops

The mental health community generally subscribes to the idea that both genetics and environment contribute to a person’s personality development. Therefore, there are many different things that cause a person to become more or less extraverted.

Studies on the effects of genetics on our personality suggest that our genetics contribute anywhere from 40%-60% of our personality traits.³ This leaves the remaining amount as possibly shaped from environment and other factors.

Extraversion & Behavior

There are many behaviors that are linked to extraversion, such as being talkative, happy, outgoing, comfortable in social situations, and enjoying having a lot of attention. In childhood, extraversion traits such as confidence are reinforced in a classroom setting, as seen in schools where students are given grades on classroom participation.

Some of these traits and behaviors of an extrovert make them better suited to leadership roles due to their confidence, ease of talking to others, and ability to be assertive.

Common Misconceptions About Extraversion

There are many stereotypes and misconceptions about both introversion and extraversion. These misconceptions can be harmful because they stereotype a person based on their personality.

Common misconceptions about extroverts include:

1. Extroverts Must Be the Center of Attention

Enjoying social interactions does not automatically mean that all extroverts must be the center of attention. Many are happy just being part of the social environment.

2. Extroverts Aren’t Shy

It is perfectly natural for someone to be an extrovert and still be shy. Shyness, although frequently used synonymously with introversion, is actually a different personality trait.⁴

3. Extroverts Aren’t Good Listeners

People with all personality traits can be good listeners, as one’s level of extraversion has no bearing on their ability to empathetic and listen to others.

4. Extroverts Do Not Like Deep Conversations

Many extroverts love deep conversations- they just usually prefer the social element and social connection that it brings.

5. Extroverts Are Always Able to Make Friends

Just because someone recharges their batteries by spending time with others does not mean that this always comes easily to them. Many extroverts struggle with how to make friends or connect with others on a deeper level.

6. Extroverts Never Get Depressed

Although those with higher traits of extraversion tend to have greater mental health benefits and outcomes⁵ this does not mean that they never experience mental health concerns. People of all personality traits experience depression and anxiety from time to time, and this is okay.

7. Extroverts Are Self-Centered

Saying extroverts are self-centered is a stereotype based on extroverts having stronger personalities, but it is untrue. Extraversion personality traits are not correlated with being self-centered.

8. Extroverts Do Not Need to Recharge

Although it is generally accepted that extraoerts do not require the same amount of alone time as their more introverted peers, it is untrue that they never need time alone to recharge.

9. Extroverts Enjoy Public Speaking

While some extroverts enjoy public speaking, not all do. Many extroverts dislike public speaking, and many even have social anxiety!

10. Extroverts Do Not Get Along Well With Introverts

Saying extroverts don’t get along with introverts is another harmful stereotype. It is important to have different personality types in a social circle, as everyone brings different strengths!

Pros & Cons of Extraversion

Just like every personality trait, there are benefits and drawbacks to being an extrovert.  Some people may find that they struggle with having some of these personality traits, and others may find that they are not bothered by their extraversion traits but that these traits are more noticeable and bothersome to others.

Benefits of high extraversion include:

• Comfort with other people
• Confident in social situations
• Capable of making friends quickly
• Work well in group settings
• Good at talking to people
• Others might see you as more friendly
• Good at planning activities
• More likely to find others like you, as it is estimated that extroverts make up between half and three quarters of the population⁶
• Often the first person called to plan an event

Drawbacks of being high in extraversion include:

• You might intimidate others
• Tendency to get lonely
• Others might see you as loud or boisterous
• You might take offense when others do not want to get together
• May make quick decisions
• May seek too much validation
• Your friendships might be superficial
• You might be impulsive. “Extroverts often act first, think later.”⁶
• You might struggle with alone time

Can You Become More or Less Extraverted?

Our personality stays more or less the same throughout our life, with minimal changes. Therefore, if you are introverted as a child, you are more likely to be introverted as an adult. The things that can change personality usually involve psychological or physical traumas, which can change the brain and the personality.

Still, many people want to know if they can become more or less extraverted. Because our society reinforces extraversion traits, it is common for people to want to increase their extraversion.

How to Increase Your Extraversion

There are some benefits of increasing extraversion if you’re low on the extraversion scale. These include increased social support and increased self confidence.

Strategies to increase extraversion include:

• Be realistic: Being comfortable with who you are is essential. You are likely not to become completely extraverted overnight if you are introverted, and this is okay!
• Consider why you want to be more extraverted: If you are aiming for a leadership position, job promotion, or better dating prospects, think about your goal and look at other ways to achieve it in addition to becoming more extraverted. This will make you more confident overall.
• Try new hobbies: Getting involved in a new task or learning a new skill will help you meet other people by giving you a commonality. As many people low in extraversion struggle to talk to people they feel they have little in common with, this could help bridge the communication gap.
• Move to a new area for school: Moving to a new place often forces people out of their shell, causing them to be more extraverted- or at least less shy. “Probably, when an individual migrates from his or her native to other countries for the purpose of education, he or she learns to be independent and less shy.”⁴
• Avoid people who put you down: Some people are introverted or hesitant to socially relax when they are around a person who puts them down. This could be a dominating parent, sibling, coworker, boss, or spouse. See if you are more comfortable being yourself when you aren’t around the person who criticizes you or makes you feel “judged.” This can include getting their criticizing voice out of your head even when they aren’t around.
• Work to decrease self-shame: Many people struggle in social situations due to embarrassment about how they may appear to others. Working to decrease these feelings can help you develop more confidence in social situations.
• Form friendships with extroverts: Having someone in your social circle who is more extraverted can expose you to different social events and help you meet other people.
• Be aware of who you are: If you need down time at the end of a social event, this is okay- allow yourself to have it! Refusing to honor your needs can backfire and have you resenting social events and extraversion in general.

How to Decrease Your Extraversion

There are some benefits of decreasing extraversion if you’re high on the extraversion scale, such as developing deeper friendships, being less intimidating to other people, and being able to help share the spotlight with people who are less extraverted. Ultimately, stay true to who you are and your personality, but if you want to decrease some aspects of your extraversion, here are some tips.

Strategies to decrease extraversion include:

• Be comfortable listening: Many extraverted people enjoy being the center of attention, and enjoy talking with others. Try to spend more time listening the next time you are in a social engagement.
• Spend time alone: Although it might feel difficult at first, learning to spend time alone is great for mental health and personal development.
• Make friends with introverts: Adding more people with different personality traits to your social circle is beneficial to learning how to adapt and work well with others.
• Take up a quiet, self reflective activity: Engaging in a quiet activity such as painting or journaling will help you be more self reflective.
• Watch a  movie or go to dinner alone: This will give you “forced” solo time, and may help you develop comfort with being alone.
• Try not making weekend plans: Many extraverted people are unhappy when they don’t have plans for the upcoming weekend. Try not to make plans this weekend, and reflect on the feeling that comes up for you at the thought of being alone.

When to Seek Professional Support

Ultimately, there is no shame in being who you are. People who are extraverted bring a lot of life and social engagement to many social situations. However, if you feel like some of your personality traits, like extraversion, are holding you back, then professional support can help.

Finding a therapist who can help you develop self awareness and understanding of who you are, as well as how to be more comfortable with your personality is possible using online therapy options or by finding a therapist using an online therapy directory.

In My Experience

In my experience, extraversion is usually rewarded in society, and those who are more introverted, such as myself, are told to “try to be more social”- yet extroverts are rarely told to “be less social.” Many social situations such as weddings, birthdays, and other celebratory events are made for people who are more easily social, and who more easily excel in these environments.There is no shame in being who you are, and people who are both extraverted and introverted can have deep, long lasting friendships.