Theories Personality Psychology 5 Personality Traits of Extroverts By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial process Kendra Cherry Reviewed by Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW on July 01, 2019 facebook twitter instagram Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, international bestselling author and host of the The Verywell Mind Podcast. Learn about our Review Board Amy Morin, LCSW Updated on April 11, 2021 Print Do you love meeting new people? Does a big social event leave you feeling energized and renewed? If you can answer yes to these questions, then there is a possibility that you might be an extrovert. 1:33 Signs You May Be An Extrovert There is a distinction between extroverts (also known as extraverts) and introverts, which is often treated as an either/or trait. Introversion and extroversion are 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. Each dimension exists on a continuum. While some people might tend to be at the extreme end of either side, most people are somewhere more 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. Verywell / Joshua Seong What Is an Extrovert? On the positive side, extroverts are often described as talkative, sociable, action-oriented, enthusiastic, friendly, and out-going. On the negative side, they are sometimes described as attention-seeking, easily distracted, and unable to spend time alone. Extraverts are also more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors, including risky health behaviors. Some of the general characteristics associated with extroversion include: Enjoys being at the center of attention Enjoys group work Feels isolated by too much time spent alone Likes to communicate by talking Likes to talk about thoughts and feelings Looks to others and outside sources for ideas and inspiration Numerous, broad interests Tends to act first before thinking Extroversion has been correlated with a number of different outcomes. Among the positive outcomes, extroverts tend to spend more time with other people, spend more time engaged in social activities, and tend to have more friends. Research has also suggested that extroverts tend to be happier than introverts and are less prone to certain psychological disorders. Common Traits of Extroverts Think you might be an extrovert? The following are five of the key traits common to this type of personality. Understanding your personality type can help you to improve your relationships, better understand your likes and dislikes and strengths and weaknesses, and discover new ways to approach problems. 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 you are so good at meeting new people, striking up conversations, and you genuinely enjoy the company of others, it probably is no surprise that making friends comes easily. You're Inspired to Socialize 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 they 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 Problems When you are facing a problem, you prefer to discuss the issues and various options with others. Talking about it helps you explore the issue in-depth and figure out which option might work the best. After a difficult day at work or school, talking about it with friends or family can help you feel less stressed out. Introverts, on the other hand, prefer to think about problems and spend time alone after a trying day. 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. It is for this reason that 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. A Word From Verywell 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. 11 Things Introverts Want You to Know Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Blitz D, Hanauer MX, Vidojevic M, van Vliet P. Practical applications of five concerns with the five-factor model. Practical Applications. 2019;6(4). doi:10.3905/pa.6.4.319 Lischetzke T, Eid M. Why extraverts are happier than introverts: The role of mood regulation. J Pers. 2006;74(4):1127-61. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2006.00405.x McCabe KO, Fleeson W. What is extraversion for? Integrating trait and motivational perspectives and identifying the purpose of extraversion. Psychol Sci. 2012;23(12):1498–1505. doi:10.1177/0956797612444904 Additional Reading Lucas R. Extraversion. In Baumeister RF, Vohs KD (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Psychology. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications; 2008.