Outgoing behavior gives positive feelings, a latest research paper shows.
Past researches have proven that introverts feel happier when they indulge in extroverted activities like smiling at people passing by or ringing up an old friend. However, in this study, the experts found that this rule of happiness applies to people across different cultures.
"However, we are probably the first to extend this finding to a variety of cultures," said Timothy Church, professor of counseling psychology and associate dean of research in the College of Education at Washington State University, in the press release.
Researchers studied the moods and behavior of college students in the U.S., Venezuela, China, the Philippines and Japan by using a personality trait survey called 'Big Five.' They found that indulging in extroverted behavior brought out positive feelings in people and they felt more cheerful when they were free to be themselves.
The study also showed that students felt more extroverted, agreeable, conscientious, emotionally stable and open to experience in situations where they could choose to behave in their own way rather than when pressurized.
The study is first to show that these results transcend Western culture and also apply to the more relationship- and group-oriented cultures in Asia and south America.
"Cross-cultural psychologists like to talk about psychic unity," Church said. "Despite all of our cultural differences, the way personality is organized seems to be pretty comparable across cultural groups. There is evidence to show that 40 to 50 percent of the variation in personality traits has a genetic basis."
Researchers stated that indulging in extroverted behavior could be one of the methods to increase happiness levels in most, if not all, cultures.
The findings of the study have been published in the 'Journal of Research in Personality.'
