Does society prefer extroverts or introverts? How do society and America in particular show an extrovert bias?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An extrovert bias is a societal preference for people with extroverted personalities. It is particularly common in American society, where outgoing leaders, students, and community members are given more opportunities than those that are reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep reading to understand what the extrovert bias is and what it looks like in American society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Scientists and writers dating back to the Romans, Greeks, and the Bible have studied introversion and extroversion extensively. They\u2019ve even found that some animals can be identified as introverts or extroverts. The two personality types working together can create effective partnerships like, for instance, that of Martin Luther King Jr. (an extrovert) and Rosa Parks (an introvert). Her quiet defiance in refusing to give up her bus seat made her an appealing symbol King could use to rally others to the cause of integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A third to a half of Americans are introverts, according to studies<\/strong>. They tend to be quiet and thoughtful and prefer less stimulation. There\u2019s a good chance that you\u2019re an introvert yourself\u2014or you live, work, or are friends with an introvert. You may not realize when you\u2019re associating with introverts, however, because many of them act like extroverts when necessary, either consciously or unconsciously. Some people don\u2019t realize they\u2019re actually introverts until a change in their lives, such as a divorce or layoff, allows them to live in a way that aligns with their true nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The U.S. is one of the most extroverted nations, according to studies, and our society is skewed toward favoring extroverts. Our culture, including schools, social institutions, and workplaces, celebrates and is shaped around an \u201cextrovert bias\u201d<\/strong>\u2014a belief that the ideal personality type is someone who is highly sociable, self-assured, and enjoys the spotlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We typically think of an extrovert as a person of action, who takes risks and readily makes decisions. He or she is gregarious and flourishes as part of a team or as its leader. While we claim to value independence<\/a> and individuality (qualities of introverts<\/a>), the only independent type we seem to celebrate is the loner who comes up with technological innovations and gets rich. Anyone else with introvert tendencies is suspect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Society often views introversion, which can encompass sensitivity and shyness, as an undesirable personality trait that should be suppressed or changed<\/strong>. Because extroversion has become the norm to which everyone must conform, introverts are left feeling devalued because of this extrovert bias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research shows we rate people more positively when they have qualities we associate with extroverts<\/strong>. For instance, talkative people are considered more intelligent, attractive, interesting, and likely to make better friends. People who talk faster are rated as more capable than those who talk slower. In groups, those who talk the most are seen as smarter than those who are quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA Nation of Extroverts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A Society Built for Extroverts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n