Personality – 5 Factor Structure – Extraversion

Personality – 5 Factor Structure

Extraversion

Extraversion (also “extroversion”) is marked by pronounced engagement with the external world. Extraverts enjoy being with people, are full of energy, and often experience positive emotions. They tend to be enthusiastic, action-oriented individuals who are likely to say “Yes!” or “Let’s go!” to opportunities for excitement.  They seek stimulation and the company of others. In groups they like to talk, assert themselves, and draw attention to themselves. They often experience positive emotions.

Introverts lack the exuberance, energy, and activity levels of extraverts. They tend to be quiet, low-key, deliberate, and less dependent on the social world. Their lack of social involvement should not be interpreted as shyness or depression; the introvert simply needs less stimulation than an extravert and prefer to have more time alone to re-charge their batteries. The independence and reserve of the introvert is sometimes mistaken for unfriendliness or arrogance.

Facets of Extraversion

Warmth Friendly people genuinely like other people and openly demonstrate positive feelings toward others.

Gregariousness Gregarious people find the company of others pleasantly stimulating and rewarding. They enjoy the excitement of crowds.

Excitement-Seeking High scorers for this area of personality are easily bored without high levels of stimulation.

Positive Emotions This facet measures a person’s ability to experience a range of positive feelings, including happiness, enthusiasm, optimism and joy.

Assertiveness High scorers for Assertiveness like to charge and direct the activities of others. They tend to be leaders in groups.

Activity Level Active individuals lead fast-paced and busy lives. They do things and move about quickly, energetically, vigorously and they are involved in many activities.

Extraversion items

Extraverted

• Feel comfortable around people.
• Make friends easily.
• Am skilled in handling social situations.
• Am the life of the party.
• Know how to captivate people.
• Start conversations.
• Warm up quickly to others.
• Talk to a lot of different people at parties.
• Don’t mind being the center of attention.
• Cheer people up.

Introverted

• Have little to say.
• Keep in the background.
• Would describe my experiences as somewhat dull.
• Don’t like to draw attention to myself.
• Don’t talk a lot.
• Avoid contacts with others.
• Am hard to get to know.
• Retreat from others.
• Find it difficult to approach others.
• Keep others at a distance.

Using the descriptors above rate yourself as to how extraverted you are.

Extraversion

High___________________________________________Low

Biology of Extraversion

Extraversion has been linked to higher sensitivity of the mesolimbic dopamine system to potentially rewarding stimuli. This partly explains the high levels of positive affect found in Extraverts, since they will more intensely feel the excitement of a potential reward. The consequence of this is that extraverts can more easily learn the contingencies for positive reinforcement, since the reward itself is experienced as greater.