Explain It to Me The rise of the introverts
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Dec 7, 2025 
Shannon Sowers-Avala, a psychology professor at the University of Kentucky, explores the nuances between introversion and extroversion, discussing how the pandemic influenced social behaviors. Olga Hazán, a staff writer who experimented with becoming more extroverted, shares her transformative journey through improv and social challenges. They delve into the misconception of rigid personality types, emphasizing that traits can evolve and how both introverts and extroverts have valuable lessons to learn from each other.
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Personality Is A Continuum
- Introversion and extroversion sit on a continuum rather than in discrete boxes.
- Introverts tend to need less stimulation and derive less energy from social situations while extroverts gain energy and positivity from them.
Introversion Became Socially Desirable
- Recent cultural shifts have made introversion more celebrated and visible.
- That recognition may prompt more people to label themselves introverts even if their behavior varies.
Age Alters Extraversion Facets
- Different sub-facets of extraversion change differently with age.
- Social dominance can increase while social vitality or enthusiasm for socializing tends to decrease as we age.
