Outgoing, jovial, and communicative — those are some core characteristics of extroverted people. But there are a lot of misconceptions about extroverts. Some claim that extroverts tend to be bad listeners, they don’t like alone time, or they are shallow conversationalists.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. These stereotypes often cloud one’s judgment towards extroverts, so you might end up losing out on genuine friendships if you believe them. At the end of the day, intro- and extroversion are subject to human behavior.
The key to understanding people lies in identifying their habits and patterns. You may think that you can tell if someone is extroverted at first glance, but these interesting facts about extroverts separate fact from fiction. And they will certainly change your view of these social butterflies.
17 Interesting Facts About Extroverts
So, what separates extroverts from introverts, and why do you need to know this? The ability to identify an extroverted person, whether it’s in your family, friend group, or workplace, will help you understand how their minds work and how you can best interact with them.
1. Extroverts Are Energized by Socializing
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Extroverted people not only enjoy social settings, they also get a good kick out of them. Being around others energizes extroverts and often boosts their mood. Unlike introverts, who are usually drained after spending time with lots of people, extroverts are buzzing with energy.
The unfortunate part is this energy can be misinterpreted by others. They may feel that the extroverted person is hogging the conversation, making themself the center of attention.
2. They Are Often Risk-Takers
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Extroverts are likely to be risk-takers. This is not because they think less about consequences than their introverted counterparts but rather because they are just naturally optimistic. Most extroverted people are more willing to take risks and try new things due to the reward they will get if or when it all goes well.
This kind of thinking is actually scientifically backed. A study shows that people who take risks and succeed are often rewarded with dopamine — a chemical released in the brain that triggers you to feel good.
3. Extroverts Make Great Team Players
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As mentioned before, extroverts thrive in social situations, and this often translates into them being excellent team players. Collaboration, communication, creativity, and flexibility are vital in group settings, and they also happen to be some of an extrovert’s best traits.
In the same breath, extroverts also make great team leaders. Their knack for communication makes them the best candidates for raising any concerns that the team might have.
4. They Are Fast Thinkers
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Extroverts are known for their fast thinking and ability to react rapidly to situations. This can be attributed to the fact that most extroverted people tend to think while they speak, as opposed to introverts, who are more likely to think before they speak.
This makes an extrovert a lethal weapon in fast-paced environments, both socially and professionally. So, extroverts are likely to contribute more to group discussions or brainstorming sessions.
5. Extroverts Are Natural Networkers
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Extroverted people are inclined to have larger social circles in real life and virtually. Most extroverts have the natural skill of meeting new people and forming friendships or connections within a short period of time.
While there are many advantages to having this skill, like getting new opportunities, not everyone you meet is meant to be a friend. Bad connections are just as likely to be made as good ones.
6. They Have an Expressive Body Language
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Did you know that 55% of communication is non-verbal? This is known as The 7-38-55 Formula, which states that only 7% of meaning is conveyed through words, 38% through tone of voice, and 55% through body language.
Extroverts typically use expressive body language, gestures, and social cues to communicate their thoughts and emotions. This gives them the upper hand when it comes to engaging with people who speak a foreign language or small children with a limited vocabulary.
7. Extroverts Are at Risk of Overcommitting
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Extroverts are highly enthusiastic when it comes to social engagements. This can, unfortunately, lead to them overcommitting and spreading themselves too thin. Perhaps because extroverts have an open-minded personality, they tend to jump head-first into new situations.
The disadvantage of this personality trait is that others could see you as a people-pleaser and may use this to their personal advantage.
8. They Have FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
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Extroverts are more likely to have a fear of missing out (or FOMO). This is when one has a worried feeling that they are missing out on fun social gatherings, and it’s often triggered by what they see on social media.
Because of their natural inclination to go out and be around people, many extroverts are more prone to feel isolated or even unwanted when they don’t get an invitation to parties or events. But if you have a look at the fact above, you’ll see that it is sometimes good not to be invited to everything.
9. Extroverts Have a Need for External Stimulation
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Although extroverts don’t loathe spending time alone, they are more likely to get bored or restless when left alone than their introverted counterparts. This makes them crave external stimulation.
Extroverts enjoy being around activity because it stimulates their brains, helping them stay alert and engaged. This is one of their negative traits, however, as without this stimulation, they can fall victim to procrastination and a general feeling of demotivation.
10. They Are Adaptive Communicators
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Extroverts can adapt their communication style to connect with a wide range of people, making them effective communicators. They have the ability to adjust their speech and vocabulary according to the person they are communicating with.
This makes extroverts some of the best teachers and therapists. Their talkative and charismatic nature, paired with their expressive body language, make it easy for others to engage and ultimately open up.
11. Extroverts Are at Risk of Burning Out
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Due to their overzealous attitude to social engagement, extroverts are more at risk of burnout if they don’t balance their social activities with self-care and alone time. By either spreading themselves too thin or overcommitting, they open themselves up to neglecting their own needs and putting others first.
This is another disadvantage of being an extrovert, as not having a positive work-life and self-care balance can lead to mental health issues like depression.
12. They Make Great Salespeople
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Extroverts’ ability to connect with others and make a good first impression allows them to be excellent salespeople and negotiators. Their talkative nature makes them great at asking questions, which instantly makes the potential buyer feel heard and acknowledged.
This is one characteristic of being an extrovert that many introverted people lack. The use of this trait goes beyond just selling products; it also helps extroverts sell themselves when it comes to job or business opportunities. It even assists them when forming romantic relationships.
13. Extroverts Find Comfort in Crowds
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Outside of being energized by social events, extroverts are also likely to find comfort in these settings. Their free-spirited character allows them to trust those around them easily and often leads to them sharing quite a bit of personal information, even on the first meeting.
Because of their incredible comfort in crowds, extroverts usually feel comfortable in noisy environments like parties, concerts, and sporting events. They often leave these events with a long list of new acquaintances.
14. They Seek Novelty
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One thing that most extroverted people tend to have in common is their eagerness to try new things. They often seek out experiences they haven’t had before and enjoy trying new hobbies, foods, and activities. This makes extroverts great travelers as they can easily adapt to new environments.
Extroverts love going out of their comfort zone and are constantly keen to make new memories. This is perhaps one of the biggest differences between introverted and extroverted people, as the former usually shy away from dopamine-inducing situations while the latter is a sucker for thrills.
15. Extroverts Are Enthusiastic Storytellers
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Extroverted people make fantastic storytellers. Their enthusiasm when speaking and incredible ability to convey messages using body language gives them the upper hand when it comes to communicating, but more especially storytelling.
This could explain why most artists, actors, and theater performers are likely to be extroverts. Their confidence and outgoing nature easily transcend into captivating performances that leave audiences wanting more.
16. They Are Active Problem Solvers
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As mentioned previously, extroverts tend to think as they speak, and this is a powerful skill that allows them to solve problems quickly. They seem to tackle challenges through open discussion or brainstorming with others, which not only offers different perspectives but also increases the number of viable solutions.
Extroverts are often accused of overspeaking and overshadowing other people’s thoughts, but that is more of a personality issue than a general characteristic. Most extroverts are actually very open to outside views, as this is a form of external stimulation.
17. There Is an Extrovert Spectrum
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Like many things in the world, extroversion has a spectrum. The extrovert spectrum shows a range of personality traits and behaviors associated with extroverted people. It acknowledges that extroverts can display different degrees of sociability and outgoingness.
So, while some extroverts may be highly sociable, talkative, and energized by social interactions, others may show these traits to a lesser extent. This is perfectly explained by the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung’s theory of personality.
It states that both introverts and extroverts can view the world through four functions — thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition. Here’s a brief breakdown:
- Extroverted thinkers are driven by logic and practical outcomes rather than feeling.
- Extrovert feelers are social and charming and love being the center of attention.
- Extroverted sensors often live entirely in the outside world, leaving little room for introspection.
- Lastly, those with extroverted intuition are the dreamers who often resort to spiritual and mystic insights to solve problems.
Ultimately, the spectrum highlights the diversity within the extrovert personality type. This proves that not all extroverts are the same and that individual differences exist even when people have similar characteristics.
Next Read: Psychological Facts About Introverts
Amanda O’Brien is the owner of the New Interesting Facts website. She attended Monash University in Melbourne, where she attained two degrees with first class honours. She lives in London and runs four websites (including this one) and loves to geek out on facts of all types.