Self Monitoring Scale
High Self-Monitors are skilled at modifying their behavior to the social demands of a situation. They look for cues, and act on them. When in Rome, they do as the Romans do. This according to psychologist Mark Snyder, who created the Self-Monitoring Scale.
Low Self-Monitors base their behavior on their own internal compass. They have a smaller repertoire of social behaviors and masks at their disposal. They’re less sensitive to situational cues, and less interested in role-playing, even when they know what the cues are.
Snyder says it’s as if low self-monitors and high self-monitors play to different audiences, one inner, the other outer.
Being dualistic creatures, it’s hard to contemplate a scale like this without asking, “Which is better?” But there’s no obvious answer to this question. Each way of being has its pros and cons.
Are low self-monitors rigid and socially awkward, or do they march admirably to the beat of their own drummers? Are high self-monitors conformist and deceptive, or is their willingness to accommodate to situational norms an act of generosity and modesty? HSMs have been found to be better liars than LSMs, but also better actors, an art form that requires great empathy.
You may also be wondering how self-monitoring relates to introversion. Extroverts are more likely than introverts to be HSMs, but plenty of introverts are HSMs too.
According to another study the higher a self-monitor you are, the better you probably are at acting situationally extroverted.
Psychology Today
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