Is it possible for a person to become more extroverted?

I go through periods where I’m sociable (far more talkative, go out a bit more often with friends, etc.) but my introversion has never gone away. I still prefer being with fewer people than a big group, enjoy spending time alone, respond better in one-on-one meetings than when confronted in front of others. I still have trouble answering questions in class.

What has helped me, is finding a comfort level around my friends. I can carry along with one of my friends without shutting up for ages (which he doesn’t mind, I think.) When he is around I find that I am at least a bit more likely to warm up to others, carry on conversation, mingle.

Test the waters. It’s not so scary. But remember, there’s nothing wrong with introversion :)

@muppetish I suppose if I think about it, I go through stages too. The thing is, I wouldn’t say I’m really introverted. I’m friendly and I genuinely like people and enjoy talking to them, even if they are strangers. But since I recently moved to a new city, I only have one close friend and my boyfriend, and I am having trouble getting over that “hump” with people and making new friends. I dont really get it. Maybe its just how I am! I guess it’s been a long time since I had to start fresh making a whole new batch of friends.

Well, there’s alcohol…

But yes, I think that it’s something a person can work on. People change.

Give me a few Smirnoffs and I’ll show you….

I’m gonna do a little language nitpicking here, because this is one of my pet peeves. I hate it when people ask if I’m an introvert or an extrovert because I have to ask them “Do you really want to know, or are you asking if I’m shy or outgoing?” Because outgoing and shy are not interchangeable with extroverted and introverted. I hate being told that just because I can work a room I’m not an introvert. I am. At the end of social interactions, no matter how wonderfully they went, I am exhausted and it can take days for me to recover. Likewise, even if a person has two left social feet, if they’re energized by being around people, they’re still an extrovert.

Forget all that rubbish about being “just” something or other. The next time you get into a social situation of any kind, just ask yourself the following question: “What if I was more talkative?” and then behave as if you were answering that question with your behaviour. The results will amaze you.

Oh, very definitely! When I was teaching, every week my students had to get up in front of the class and given a report on a current event. The more a person interacts with others in a structured setting the more comfortable they become with talking in front of others.

As a person’s social skills develop, they may become more (or less) comfortable with meeting and interacting with other people.

Beyond a certain point in development, people develop relatively stable personality traits that are resistant to change.

Yes I agree with @BoBo1946.
The more you practice the more confident you become with the task in question.

@BoBo1946 I had a social studies teacher who did that and managed to help a few students who were intoverted because they were shy, find their voices and their confidence started to extend past the class room. He also use current events.
You wouldn’t happen to be a german teacher from nyc?

@BoBo is exactly right. As in many things, practice makes one better, if not always perfect.

I agree with @MacBean and @Dr_Lawrence ‘s responses.

We are typically hard-wired by our teen years on the introversion/extroversion characteristic. And there are different degrees. Having worked with many people who facilitate workshops, it is always interesting to ask the facilitators how they feel when it is over. The ones who have tested as an extrovert describe it as full of adrenaline pumping, whereas we introverts feel like a puddle.

We find other things to motivate us to adapt to the ‘on stage’ persona. For me, it is crafting the message so well that it generates great discussions by the participants, thus taking the attention off of me as the facilitator. If it is speech, I need to believe it in and practice a lot. Several friends can be the life of the party and immediately crash from exhaustion as soon as they leave or the last guest heads out the door.

So yes, I feel that one can adapt for certain circumstances; I don’t believe that they can change. And no one should want to change. One is not better than the other. Adaptability is the key.

@partyparty ahhh…..been missing you my friend!

It’s an energy thing. I don’t know if that changes. I’m on the dividing line between extroverted and introverted. I can do it and most times it’s fun, but it takes energy out of me and I need to retreat.

I’m sure it’s possible to change that, but it takes being more conscious of yourself than you usually are and making a concerted effort to keep going with talking and listening to others if your usual response is to back away. Don’t ramp it up like gangbusters on the first go, though, just push yourself out of your comfort zone bit by bit. That floppy feeling in your stomach is actually excitement, so don’t worry. Just smile and remember, everyone else is worried about how they’re coming off, so if you’re reasonably polite and interested in them, you’ll be OK.

Sure you can.

I am the opposite and have worked to tone down my high extrovert energies around some that are quieter, I practice taking space in conversation and my listening skills.

I have a fast and articulate brain, it is very easy for me to respond quickly and I am naturally a high mental energy type, can jump from one subject to another with ease, need little time to think before I speak and express myself very well, soooo my task is to be present & shut up, listen. lol

I like what @MacBean said. I don’t think it’s helpful to think about yourself in terms of labels. It’s better to think about your specific goals, such as talking more with people, and then develop a plan to learn how to do that.

It would be helpful to break down “talking more” into more specific behaviors? Is this just about taking up more air time, or do you want to say things that will interest others? Do you feel like you have a lot to say and don’t say it, or do you wish you had something to say. Different problems.

In any case, figure out the specifics of the problem first. Once you’ve done that, you can come up with possible solutions—the more the better. Best to make changes in behavior happen in baby steps. So figure out little goals to work towards. Don’t just charge towards the big goal, saying “big goal or bust.” It may not turn out that way. With little goals, you can have “successes” early on and the failures don’t hurt as much.

I have pinpointed the problem. The problem is that, in the past year or so, I started overanalyzing EVERYTHING I was about to say. Like…I can’t say anything now without thinking about it first, and it is so fucking annoying. I hate it, I don’t know why I’m this way. But often times I think that someone will think what I just said is stupid, so I never even say it. UGH.

I believe it’s possible. That’s pretty much what happened to me. I’m usually only extroverted with my family and CLOSEST friends, but college changed that and now I can be myself wherever I go. :) (Haha, that’s an exaggeration…but I can for the most part. :])

There is a difference between a shy extrovert and true introvert. A true introvert really does prefer to be more by themselves into their own thoughts while a shy extrovert may seem like an “introvert” at first until they get over their shyness (then their true personalities come out).