# Introverts vs. extroverts — the myth debunked

- **Episode:** [223](https://agents.truthliesandwork.com/episodes/223.md) (2025-08-14)
- **Type:** intro
- **Tags:** introvert, extrovert, personality, myth
- **Time:** 9:47–11:12 (start 587s)
- **Listen:** [https://truthliesandwork.com/223?t=587](https://truthliesandwork.com/223?t=587)

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[9:47] John Michel: No. So, there's not a lot out there in the organizational literature. We are starting to look at that now. So, We're looking at a number of boundary conditions or moderators. Currently, we're actually conducting the research right now. Things like introversion, extroversion, neuroticism. So people who just get stressed easily, they may not want to talk about personal issues because it may either expose a weakness of theirs or it may just make them feel like they're under time pressure. We're also looking at other personality traits like Social anxiety. Some people are just— get anxious in social situations. So it's not just that they're an introvert, but they're actually like anxious talking to other people, especially about something that is not task-related, something that's not work-related. And then another personality trait we're looking at is the need to belong. So some people have a great need to belong, and they may be much more willing to engage in small talk, even if it becomes personal, because they've got this great need to connect. Right. So we're starting to look at that now, but that has really been underexamined in the literature thus far
[10:52] Leanne Elliott: And in terms of that, that, 'cause what I found really interesting about the paper that you shared with me was that how you'd found a link between this awkward small talk and emotional exhaustion. So can you maybe start by helping our listeners understand what emotional exhaustion is in this context?