Dopamine is a chemical released in the brain that provides the motivation to seek external rewards like earning money, climbing the social ladder, attracting a mate, or getting selected for a high-profile project at work.
First, Extraverts are attuned to and motivated by anticipated rewards. This desire for rewards—sometimes summarized as “wanting”—compels them to proactive pursuit. This propensity to go after what they want, be it social status or influential positions, is sometimes called assertiveness in Big Five research.
Extroverts are people who thrive on social interactions. They tend to feel inspired after spending some time with other people. Extroverts tend to find such social interactions more rewarding and feel more energized. So, if you're an extrovert, then you should spend more time socializing with others.
Extraverts are energized by activity and interaction – whether that's a party or some other interaction or activity is a personal thing. Introverts don't like people and are anti-social.
“Extroverts begin to suffer burnout most often when their work and or personal relationships are stressed or hampered,” explained Dr. Bonnstetter. “This can be when they're unable to meet, connect, and enjoy the company of friends, family, and co-workers on a regular basis.”
People with high extroversion may struggle with keeping their emotions in check. At times, they can come across as aggressive or abrasive, but are also intent on pleasing people. This can lead to easily swayed opinions and unfinished projects.
Those with high extraversion traits can sometimes make others uncomfortable. Because they often say what's on their mind, more introverted people can feel like the extravert is being aggressive or making a joke out of them in front of others.
Extroverts often greatly value being liked by others, so they may be prone to overthinking and ruminating about how they are perceived. They may worry that others will find faults with them and they may fixate on a perceived negative interaction for a long time, which can cause them more distress.
Extroverts, on the other hand, become energized when they are surrounded by others and will become tired and down when they are alone. Whichever personality type you believe you possess, there are things to be mindful of with each when it comes to your mental health.
Extroverted learners prefer working with others and bouncing ideas back and forth. Social and learning activities that benefit them include problem-solving with others, group projects, and learning through mimicking experiences.
According to relationship therapist Tracy Ross, LCSW, introvert-extrovert relationships are pretty common, and that might be in light of humans craving balance. “Introverts and extroverts are attracted to each other because of the differences,” says Ross.
Extroverts are skilled at both verbal and nonverbal communication -- not to mention they're adept at persuading people in situations like job interviews and negotiations. The authors say that's likely why extroverts are more likely to become leaders.
It's All in the Dopamine Levels
Extroverts get more active and energized by socializing than introverts. Introverts, on the other hand, tend to get to the level of overstimulation in the same activity. They ultimately find socializing to be tiring and punishing, leading them to feel drained in the process.
Extroverts are, on average, happier than introverts. They benefit from social connections, feelings of confidence, a sense of contribution, and a Western cultural environment that appreciates outgoing individuals.
On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. But statistics show that around 70% of gifted people are introverts. People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math.
For extroverts, being alone can be a challenging experience. They derive their energy from socializing with others, and when they are alone, they may feel depleted and bored. However, this does not mean that all extroverts find it hard to be alone.
The stereotype of the depressed person fits closely with the stereotype of the introvert: spending a lot of time alone, getting anxious around other people, and being low on energy. Extroverted people do get depressed though.
Why do extroverts like small talk? Extroverts are energised around other people and tend to process their thoughts externally (that is they talk to think). They also tend to not like gaps in conversations where introverts seem happier with gaps. You could almost say they're designed to enjoy small talk.
Many extroverts get a reputation for flirting with everyone, but that's not always what they're doing. Extroverts can be friendly and talkative, and they're really good at connecting with other people. Because of this, their behavior might come off as flirtatious…but that's not always the case.
Studies show that we all experience 'intrinsic maturation', a process of our personality becoming more balanced over time. As we age we get quieter and more introverted, and we also become more conscientious and emotionally stable (hurray!). According to prominent psychologist Susan Cain, this makes evolutionary sense.
Contrary to popular belief, Extraverts aren't always good at socializing. Shy Extraverts are people who thrive off of social experiences but who don't necessarily have the skills they need to socialize effectively. Some shy Extraverts may find social situations awkward and try to avoid talking to new people.
Shyness, a lack of confidence and low self-belief aren't exclusive to introverts because extroverts can also be shy, lack confidence and be low in self-belief.
With too many events on the calendar, even extroverts can get socially exhausted, as the temporary highs of socializing eventually give way to a crash. “While extroverts may feel recharged by being around others, there is always a possibility of overdoing something,” says therapist Jennifer Teplin, LCSW.