Members in the Media
From: The Wall Street Journal

How an Introvert Can Be Happier: Act Like an Extrovert

The Wall Street Journal:

Extroverts, those outgoing, gregarious types who wear their personalities on their sleeve, are generally happier, studies show. Some research also has found that introverts, who are more withdrawn in nature, will feel a greater sense of happiness if they act extroverted.

Experts aren’t entirely sure why behaving like an extrovert makes people feel better. One theory is that being talkative and engaging influences how people respond to you, especially if that response is positive. Others speculate that people get more satisfaction when they express their core self and opinions. Another possibility: Happiness might come simply from having successfully completed a goal, such as giving a speech.

“If you’re introverted and act extroverted, you will be happier. It doesn’t matter who you are, it’s all about what you do,” said William Fleeson, a psychology professor at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Read the whole story: The Wall Street Journal

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Comments

I kind of disagree with this – I’m what’s considered an “outgoing introvert” – I can be very talkative and engaging with people, but I have a time limit until my mental battery wears out and I need to retreat to solitude for a recharge. If I had to act like an extrovert all the time, I would be perpetually exhausted and likely, very unhappy.


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