Gregariousness (Extraversion facet)
A facet of Big Five Extraversion measuring preference for the company of others and enjoyment of group settings. High scorers seek out social gatherings; low scorers prefer small numbers.
Gregariousness is the "loves a crowd" facet of Extraversion. It is the most pure indicator of stimulation-seeking from social environments — high scorers feel energised by parties, lectures, busy offices, and noisy restaurants.
Low Gregariousness combined with high Warmth produces the "warm introvert" — affectionate one-on-one but drained by groups. High Gregariousness combined with low Warmth produces the "networker" — comfortable in crowds without forming deep individual bonds.
This is the facet that most closely maps to the popular concept of "introvert vs extrovert." It is also the facet most affected by sensory-processing sensitivity (HSPs typically score lower on Gregariousness even when other Extraversion facets are average).
Source: Costa & McCrae (1992). NEO-PI-R Professional Manual; IPIP-NEO documentation.
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