In the US, it’s always seemed like the answer was “extrovert.” Being social is lauded and most people seem skeptical of all that skulking about that introverts do.
There’s no doubt research has shown a number of advantages to being a people person.
Plenty of studies say extroverts are happier:
What happens when you take an introvert and make them act like an extrovert? They get happier:
That’s some pretty eye-opening evidence. (But, to be fair, those chatty extroverts are much better at PR, so let’s reserve judgment for the time being.)
Other research shows there may be a connection between extraversion and intelligence but that’s been debated. On the other hand, what predicts college grades better than IQ? Being an introvert.
Via Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking:
Need a top expert in a field? Might not want to pick that outgoing fellow.
Via Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking:
What about more social areas of expertise, like leadership? It definitely gets more complex. Extroverts are better leaders of passive employees, introverts shine with proactive workers:
Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking sticks up for introverts in her TED talk:
Overall, I doubt there’s a clear “better” between introverts and extroverts. They both have strengths and weaknesses, which we’re learning more about every day.
Here are a few more interesting tidbits:
Me? I remember taking a personality test in college and blowing away the instructors with my introversion score. They were curious to learn more about me but, unsurprisingly, I had little interest in talking with them.
This piece originally appeared on Barking Up the Wrong Tree.
Join over 130,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email here.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com