What makes extraverts happier than introverts? A more active "desire system"

By

Mark Prigg

|

Extrpverts are happier than introverts because of a more effective ‘desire’ system’, researchers have discovered.

Previous theories had claimed the the effect was caused by a more effective pleasure system – but that has now been discounted.

To make their discovery, researchers analysed over 1,300 people, tracking their response to 14,000 activities.

Extraverts are more likely to seek and spend more time on rewarding activities, researchers believe

‘Extroverts, because of their active nature, are more likely to seek and spend more time on rewarding activities,’ the researchers said in the journal.

‘When they do so, they also experience a higher boost in momentary happiness as compared to their introverted counterparts.

‘This partly explains the direct relationship between extraversion and momentary happiness.’

Their first finding was that extraverts reported more happiness than introverts during what the researchers defined as ‘rewarding’ activities that take effort – such as sports and exercise, and financially rewarding work tasks.

Extraverts appeared to derive more enjoyment from reading than introverts

In contrast, they found there was no difference in extraverts’ and introverts’ happiness during merely low effort, low importance ‘pleasurable, hedonic’ activities, such as watching TV, listening to music, relaxing, and shopping.

However, one exception to this pattern was reading – surprisingly perhaps, extroverts appeared to derive more enjoyment from this activity than introverts.

The researchers say this could be because reading isn’t always just for pleasure, but can also be completed in pursuit of a reward, such as to pass a course.

‘Multilevel results confirm that extraverts (versus introverts) experience a higher boost in momentary happiness when spending time on rewarding – but not pleasurable – activities, especially when rewarding activities are executed with others.

‘These processes partly explain why extroverts are happier in the moment.’

The researchers also said extroverts experience a bigger happiness boost than introverts when they perform rewarding activities with other people, rather than alone – and say they tend to have more social contact during their daily activities.

Comments (27)

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Bert Dock,

Liverpool,

15 minutes ago

What makes extroverts happier? Answer. They don`t really know what`s going on. Simples.

Yogi Bear,

Outer Space,

35 minutes ago

If I were any more of an introvert I’d be inside out yet I’m as happy as a pig in the proverbial. Never more so than when reading investigative or life saving research articles reported in this esteemed journal. Oh, and the comments on articles about Paris Hilton, Tamara Eccleston, et al. immigration, council jobs worths, proce of someones house, totally unpredictable and every single one of them hilarious.

Ferryman,

Chicago, United States,

1 hour ago

Yeah, those extroverts are happier all right, but I’ll make them pay! Muha! Muha! Muhahahahaha!

surreyreader,

hayes, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

I think you’ll find an extravert is a rabid French environmentalist

nickebdon,

Sidcup, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

For a less flimsy study about the differences between introverts and extroverts read ‘quiet’

Username,

City,

2 hours ago

Extraverts just follow the crowd, introverts are just more independent, and most people fall within a range of the two extremes which changes at different periods.

Frank,

Detroit-USA,

2 hours ago

Give an introvert a few beers and they become extroverts.

Rachel123456,

Middle Earth, United States,

3 hours ago

This is crap. I’m introvert and I’m happy. Happy with my life, God’s blessings. I have a good family, good friends and I enjoy my interests. This study doesn’t speak for everyone.

briton,

Dartmouth, United States,

3 hours ago

The real reason is that extraverts are blissfully unaware of the true realities of the world. Their happiness is based on the ignorance of children. That they seem more “successful” than introverts simply means that there are more of these louts than normal people. Sheer preponderance of numbers always lends an apparent credibility to certain behavioral characteristics.

Kay,

Peterborough,

52 minutes ago

Absolutely!

illuminaughty,

Seattle, United States,

3 hours ago

Introverts are supposed to be nerds and readers..researchers. Extroverts read Cosmo and men’s magazines.

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What makes extraverts happier than introverts? A more active "desire system"