from Journal of Experimental Psychology
If you are an introvert—that is, content to be quiet, reserved, even withdrawn—a new study suggests forcing yourself to be an extravert. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, found changing one’s social behavior in an extraverted way improves happiness and well-being. Further, the change is a realizable goal for many people. A group of volunteers were asked to be as talkative, assertive and spontaneous as they could stand. Later, that same group was told to be quiet, deliberate and reserved. Participants reported greater increases in well-being after a week of extraverted behavior and decreases in well-being after a week of introversion. Researchers say manipulating one’s behavior is easier than previously thought.