5 Extrovert Personality Traits

Extroverts draw energy from social interactions. People who are high in extroversion tend to feel excited about spending time with others, have a lot of social confidence, and often have high self-esteem. Others typically describe them as sociable, friendly, and talkative.

Understanding your personality type can help you improve your relationships, better understand your likes and dislikes, recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and discover new ways to approach problems.

So, keep reading to learn more about what it means to be an extrovert and some signs that you might have this type of personality. We also discuss the effects that being an extrovert may have on your life and what you can do to be more or less extroverted if you wish.

What Is an Extrovert?

The term extrovert describes one aspect of a personality dimension that is characterized by an expressive and outgoing pattern of behavior. Extroverts can be described as gregarious and unreserved, often seeking social interaction because it brings them enjoyment.

Do you love meeting new people? Does a big social event leave you feeling energized and renewed? If so, you might be an extrovert.

On the positive side, extroverts are often seen as talkative, sociable, action-oriented, enthusiastic, friendly, and outgoing. On the negative side, they are sometimes looked at as attention-seeking, easily distracted, and unable to spend time alone. Extroverts are also more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors, including risky health behaviors.

Extraversion vs. Introversion

Introversion versus extroversion is one of the major personality dimensions that make up the five-factor model of personality. According to this theory, personality is made up of five broad dimensions, and each dimension exists on a continuum.

While some people might tend to be at the extreme end of either side, most are somewhere in the middle. So while you might have a lot of traits that make you an extrovert, you might also find yourself sometimes exhibiting traits that are more introverted in nature.

You can also be an introverted extrovert—a type of ambivert. An ambivert enjoys socializing and can draw energy from it if the mood, setting, and/or circumstances are comfortable for them. If you have traits of both extroverts and introverts, you're a type of ambivert.

Common Traits of Extroverts

What are the signs you may be an extrovert? The following are five key traits common to this type of personality.

You Love to Talk

You don't just enjoy talking to friends, family members, and co-workers; you love to strike up conversations with total strangers. You love to meet new people and learn about their lives. Unlike introverts who tend to think before they speak, extroverts tend to speak as a way to explore and organize their thoughts and ideas.

Extroverts also tend to have a wide circle of friends. Since they are good at meeting new people, striking up conversations, and genuinely enjoy the company of others, it probably is no surprise that making friends comes easily for an extrovert.

You're Inspired by Socializing

Do you tend to feel charged up and inspired after you've spent some time with other people? Extroverts tend to find such social interactions refreshing and actually gain energy from such exchanges.

When extroverts have to spend a lot of time alone, they often begin to feel uninspired and listless. If given a choice between spending time alone and spending time with other people, an extrovert will almost always choose to spend time with a group.

You Discuss Your Problems

When you are facing a problem, you prefer to discuss the issues and various options with others. After a difficult day at work or school, for instance, talking about it with friends or family can help you feel less stressed. It also helps you explore the issue in-depth and figure out which solution might work the best.

Introverts, on the other hand, prefer to think about problems instead of talking about them. They also often want to spend time alone after a trying day versus spending time with others.

You're Friendly and Approachable

Since people with this personality type love interacting with other people so much, others tend to find extroverts likable and easy to approach. At a party, an extrovert will probably be the first one to walk up to new guests and make introductions. Extroverts typically find it easy to meet new people and make new friends.

You Are Very Open

While introverts are sometimes perceived as closed-off and aloof, extroverts are typically very open and willing to share their thoughts and feelings. Because of this, other people generally find that extroverts are easier to get to know.

How Do You Know If You're an Extrovert?

Understanding your personality type and your tendencies can help you learn more about yourself, including your strengths and weaknesses in different situations. There are a number of different ways to measure extroversion and determine if you tend to be more of an extrovert or introvert.

For many people, simply reading a description of this personality trait is enough to help them decide whether they are an extrovert. In other cases, taking a more formal personality assessment can offer further insight.

Take an Extrovert-Introvert Quiz

If you're wondering where you fall on the scale of extroversion and introversion, our fast and free quiz can help you figure it out!

The Big Five Personality Test is one of the best-known measures of extroversion and introversion. It is based on the five-factor model of personality and also measures other major personality traits including conscientiousness, neuroticism, agreeableness, and openness.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is another psychological test that includes extroversion as one of its main components.

Types of Extroverts

According to Carl Jung's theory of personality, there are four different types of extroverts. The four types of extroverts are:

• Extroverted sensors, who are strongly inspired by the physical world.
• Extroverted feelers, who enjoy listening and talking to other people.
• Extroverted intuitives, who enjoy thinking abstractly and having deep conversations and friendly debates.
• Extroverted thinkers, who are goal-oriented, high-achieving, and decisive.

These four types are also incorporated into the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, which describes 16 different personality types based on Jungian personality dimensions.

Effects of Being an Extrovert

Having an extrovert personality has been associated with a number of positive outcomes. Extroverts tend to spend more time with other people, spend more time engaged in social activities, and have more friends. Research has also suggested that extroverts tend to be happier than introverts and are less prone to certain psychological disorders.

This doesn't mean that being an extrovert is without its challenges. Studies suggest that extroverts also tend to experience more excitement-seeking, impulsivity, overconfidence, recklessness, and intolerance of boredom.

Having an extroverted personality is not objectively better than having a more introverted one. Each type of personality has its strengths and potential weaknesses, so being aware of the challenges you might face can be helpful.

Some experts suggest that ambiverts—or people who are in the middle of the extroversion/introversion continuum—may have the greatest advantage because they essentially get the best of both worlds.

How to Be More (or Less) Extroverted

There are times when you might want to act more like an extrovert, such as when you are meeting new people. In other cases, you might want to restrain some of your more extroverted tendencies, such as when you want to spend time being more reflective.

While genetics tends to play the greatest role in determining your overall personality, there are steps you can take to act more or less extroverted.

To Be More Extroverted

Research suggests that introverts who make an effort to act more extroverted may experience some benefits, including increased feelings of connectedness and more positive emotions.

If you are more on the introverted side of the continuum but want to try to experience extroversion, these strategies may help.

• Explore a hobby: Find clubs, meet-ups, and groups where you can interact more with people who share your interests.
• Practice: Increasing your social exposure can help you to feel more comfortable talking to others more often. 
• Try new things: While you might prefer to stay in your comfort zone, looking for new experiences can help you explore different sides of yourself.
  

To Be Less Extroverted

If you want to tone down your extroverted tendencies and seek more inner knowledge, try activities like these.

• Build your awareness: Contemplative activities such as practicing mindfulness or meditation can give you the chance to focus on what you are feeling and thinking in the present moment.
• Spend time alone: Solitary activities like walking in nature, reading a book, or dining alone can be good ways to reflect on your thoughts without distractions.
• Write in a journal: Expressive writing can give you the opportunity to dig deeper into your feelings and contemplate your inner life.
  

Final Thoughts

Remember that extroversion isn't an all-or-nothing trait; it's actually a continuum, and some people might be very extroverted while others are less so. Extroversion is more common than introversion and is often valued since extroverts tend to be skilled at interacting with others.

This does not mean, however, that one personality type is better than another. Each type has its own pluses and minuses, and you may even find that you are extroverted in some situations and more introverted in others.