Extroverts are more likely than introverts to exploit social situations to their own advantage – but only if they know they can get away with it.

Scientists examining whether there was a direct connection between personality types and differing reactions to social situations also found key indicators of personality types, according to new research published in Philosophical Transactions B.

Just under 200 undergraduate students participated in a game allowing them to win real money where players were asked to either invest in a central pot or hold money back.

If every player invested in the pot then all profited, but if one held back every participant lost.

Researchers found that when contributors played “secretly” extroverts hoarded far more, but when players were forced to reveal their choices the choices it was the introverts who were less generous, while extraverted personalities tended to put more into the central pot.