The Trait Spectrum
You can be identified as either an Extravert or an Introvert by many different types of personality tests. The Trait Spectrum takes things a bit further. The idea is that even though one person will tend toward one side or another for each Trait pair (Extraversion vs. Introversion, Sensory vs. Intuitive, Thinking vs. Feeling, Judging vs. Perceiving) some people will be more extreme than others. For example, some Extraverts will be more extraverted than other Extraverts. A person who identifies strongly with being an Extravert, an Introvert, or any of the other Trait types will behave differently than one who doesn’t identify as much.
Trait Factors
Each Trait (the 8 mentioned above in pairs) is more complicated than you may think. The Trait Spectrum theory holds that each Trait is made up of 3 different parts, which are called Factors. Each Factor also has 3 subfactors, called Strengths. That means that when a person is measured on the Extraversion-Introversion scale, they are actually being measured on 18 different values: 9 for Extraversion, and 9 for Introversion. The Trait with the highest overall value is said to be a person’s dominant Trait. This means that even though you may be classified as an Extravert, there may also be some Introvert areas in which you are strong.
Exploration
The first Extraversion Factor is Exploration. Exploration is the drive to expand our horizons. For an Extravert, it involves expanding their relationships, their experiences, and their knowledge about the world. Whatever the destination, Extraverts like to be the first one there, and to have the power of deciding with whom to share their new discovery. The following 3 areas are Subfactors of Exploration: Maximizing Relationships, Activeness, and Eclectic Learning.
Maximizing Relationships
Extraverts are driven toward people. Extraverts want to accumulate as many friends as possible. Having so many friends gives them plenty of people to enjoy their time with, and also helps them to feel as if someone’s always got their back. When the demands of life grow heavy, remembering that they have people to talk to and spend time with is reassuring to them.
Activeness
in addition to being continually surrounded by companions, Extraverts enjoy being perpetually on the move. When one activity is over, they are ready to jump into the next. The activities may vary, and may even include reading a riveting thriller or watching a quirky TV show. But most of the time even these slower-paced activities will be relatively fast-paced. And they will usually be either followed by or preceded with more intense external activities, such as playing a sport, working out at the gym, driving downtown to eat at a new restaurant, celebrating a birthday or personal achievement, or hitting a club (more cerebral Extraverts may opt for campaigning, attending a rally, conference, or convention, or simply verbal sparring).
Eclectic Learning
Extraverts are most interested in learning things that other people want to know. This helps them remain apprised of new developments in the world around them. Such information may consist of world events or matters relevant to only their family or certain friends. Sometimes, it also amounts to trivial things, such as info about sports, music, movies, and “pop culture” topics. Extraverts will usually be tied into whatever is biggest at the moment for the particular groups with which they identify. Since they tend to belong to numerous groups, their collection of facts and skills can seem quite eclectic.
Personal Strengths
Whether you are an Extravert or an Introvert, you may have one or more strengths in the Exploration category. And even if you don’t, it is helpful to know what gifts the average Extravert brings to the table. If you don’t know whether you are an Introvert or Extravert, go take the Trait Spectrum test and find out!