Japanese People Become More Introverted: "Economic Stagnation and the Spread of Individualism Cited as Factors"

[Financial News] A study has found that Japanese people's 'introverted personality (introversion)' has become more pronounced. The analysis suggests that economic stagnation and the spread of individualism may have played a role.
On the 22nd, The Asahi Shimbun reported that a research team at Aoyama Gakuin University analyzed the results of personality-trait surveys conducted over 12 years, from 2010 to 2021, and found that extroversion steadily declined among both men and women.
The average score fell from 4.05 in 2010–2015 to 3.82 in 2016–2021. During this period, women scored 4.07 for extroversion, higher than men at 3.80. However, extroversion tended to decline over time among both sexes. The researchers analyzed data from 48 studies and rated the extroversion of 49,905 Japanese people on a scale from 1 to 7, with 4 as the midpoint.
The decline in extroversion means that introversion increased by the same measure. Across society, people's activity levels and sociability declined.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that the findings contrasted with similar surveys in Europe, the United States, and China, which found that extroversion increased over the years. The research team analyzed that economic factors appear to have influenced the decline in extroversion among Japanese people.
Japan has experienced prolonged economic stagnation known as the "Lost 30 Years," and the situation is believed to have contributed to the decline in people's extroversion.
An economic boom and people's extroversion were found to have a positive correlation. In a similar survey conducted in China, areas with higher per-capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates also showed greater increases in extroversion.
The newspaper also wrote, "There may have been psychological factors as well," and analyzed, "As individualistic tendencies spread and clash with Japan's traditional collectivism, an 'individualism that cuts off relationships with others' is spreading, unlike in the United States and Europe."
It added, "The impact of the spread of social media (SNS) may also be worth considering," noting, "Studies have also found that when highly extroverted people use social media, their extroversion increases further, while when people with low extroversion use social media, it declines further." 


[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, International Affairs Specialist Reporter