Can you be Extroverted if you’re Autistic?
Autism describes a neurotype. It doesn't describe a personality.
Somewhere along the way, the stereotype of the quiet, solitary, socially awkward autistic person became so entrenched that people sometimes forget there are autistic people who are loud, chatty, sociable, adventurous and – yes – extroverted!
Part of the “all autistics are introverted” myth comes from the fact that the diagnostic criteria lists “persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts”. But just because someone struggles with social norms doesn’t mean they can’t or don’t want to socialise. Indeed, they may get their biggest boosts through meaningful connections.
Personality – a Quick Lesson
The current and most widely accepted model of personality, the Five Factor Model – or the Big Five – breaks personality into five factors (surprise, surprise) each comprising six facets. Each facet is on a sliding scale which goes towards the overall factor score.
This is a brief description of the Big Five and what they each represent[1]:
Openness to Experience: imagination, appreciation for art and nature, open-mindedness
Conscientiousness: diligence, organisation, responsibility
Extroversion: warmth, gregariousness, assertiveness, social energy
Agreeableness: kindness, cooperation, generosity
Neuroticism: anxiety, depression, impulsivity
Our Personality Underpins Our Autism
There are so many elements that make us who we are, including intelligence, certain abilities (e.g. artistic, musical, sporting), and, of course, our personality. It can feel like the general public doesn’t quite get that Autism does not dictate our personality. If you want to know more about your personality, try taking the IPIP-NEO[2], a free version of the Big Five test.
How does Extroversion Show Up in Autism?
Many Autistic individuals will actually middle out on Extroversion because they’re high on gregariousness but low on social energy, meaning they are super outgoing when they see their mates, but really need that decompression time afterwards. However, these Autistic people who are high on gregariousness would call themselves extroverts because they get so much out of their sociability.
Being an extroverted Autistic person doesn't determine whether you love a crowded party or would rather spend Friday night with a book, whether you thrive on constant conversation or need plenty of time alone. It just means you get energy from socialising when you choose to do it.
Autism influences how we experience and navigate the world, but it doesn't replace the person underneath. Our personalities, interests, preferences, strengths and quirks are still uniquely ours.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_NEO_Personality_Inventory
[2] https://novopsych.com/assessments/formulation/international-personality-item-pool-neo-120-item-version-ipip-neo-120/
