Personality and affective forecasting: trait introverts underpredict the hedonic benefits of acting extraverted.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Series of five scenario-based and laboratory comparative experimental studies
PubMed 23586413 · doi:10.1037/a0032281
What was done
Across five studies, researchers examined whether trait introverts make affective forecasting errors about acting extraverted. Study 1 (n = 97) evaluated affective forecasts across hypothetical scenarios involving extraverted versus introverted behavior. Studies 2 through 5 (combined n = 495) tested affective forecasts against actual experienced affect using between-subjects laboratory tasks.
What was found
In Study 1, trait introverts predicted less activated positive and pleasant affect and more negative and self-conscious affect compared to extraverts when imagining extraverted actions. In laboratory experiments (Studies 2–5), actual enjoyment from extraverted behavior did not depend on trait disposition, but introverts showed systematic forecasting errors by overestimating the negative affect and self-consciousness they would experience. The abstract reports no numerical effect sizes or test statistics.
Why it matters
These findings suggest that introverts' lower engagement in extraverted behavior may stem from inaccurate affective forecasting—overestimating hedonic costs that do not actually materialize—rather than a reduced capacity to enjoy extraverted activities.
Limits
The abstract does not provide exact effect sizes, p-values, confidence intervals, or sample demographics. Assessments relied on hypothetical scenarios and brief laboratory tasks, which may not capture the cognitive, energetic, or long-term costs of extraverted behavior in daily life.
Cited by
- supports When people are instructed in experiments to act more extroverted, they report feeling more positive affect, regardless of their baseline level of introversion or extroversion.