Psychologist claims that 'personalities are not immutable but can be consciously changed'
There are many personality tests out there, and some people may have had their results and felt happy or sad, thinking, 'I have a pessimistic personality,' or 'I wish I was more cheerful and sociable.' Many people think that personality is hard to change, but
Can you change your personality? Psychology research says yes, by tweaking what you think and do
https://theconversation.com/can-you-change-your-personality-psychology-research-says-yes-by-tweaking-what-you-think-and-do-237190
Many people may be aware that the 'personality tests' they circulate on social media lack scientific evidence. According to Zavala, most commercial personality tests, even those used for education and career choices, are not backed by research and are not meant to predict future career success.
'The most common approaches to understanding personality are not only unsupported by science, but also have the problem of assuming that people's traits are fixed and that they are innately unique,' Zavala said. 'But modern personality science shows that traits can and do change over time.'
Zavala, who also works as a clinical psychologist, has not only changed his own personality from lazy to conscientious, but has also seen his patients' personalities change. 'People can intentionally shape the traits they need to achieve the success they want in life. This is the opposite of the common idea of stereotyping your personality and telling you to choose your partner, activities, and career according to those traits,' Zavala claims.
Personality is 'characteristics of how you think, feel, and behave,' or in other words, it is a label that represents the answers to questions such as 'Do you have a pessimistic view of life?', 'If someone cuts in line to wait for a taxi, do you get angry or assume that there must be a reason for it?', 'Do you tend to put off tasks until the last minute or do you steadily work your way through them to finish them?'
Researchers began classifying various words describing human qualities into categories in the 1930s, and in 1940 five broad classifications were formed that would later become
Many people think that personality is like the 'core of who we are,' and that if our personality were to change, we would become a different person. However, personality does not define what we like and dislike, nor does it determine our sense of humor. Personality is also different from a person's values and what they consider important in life.
So even if your Big Five personality trait changes from 'conscientiousness' to 'extraversion,' your core self doesn't change. 'It just means you've learned to deal with situations with different thoughts, feelings, and behaviors,' Zavala said.
Some people may think that it is difficult to change one's personality, but people do not always think and act the same way; these thoughts and actions vary depending on experiences, situations, and attitudes. In other words, since personality is 'characteristics of how we think, feel, and act,' it is possible to change one's personality.
For example, let's say that Mr. A's personality is 'not very trustworthy.' If one day Mr. A changes his mind and realizes that 'being punctual is respectful of others,' and makes an effort to arrive at meeting places five minutes early and sets alarms and reminders, then Mr. A can be said to have acquired the 'traits of a trustworthy person.' If he can maintain these thoughts, feelings, and behaviors over time, then his personality will have changed.
In fact, research has shown that personality changes as we age, with people becoming more extroverted, emotionally stable, agreeable, and conscientious.
Does your personality change as you age? - GIGAZINE
Zavala's research has also shown that people can speed up personality change by making deliberate adjustments to their thoughts and behaviors. According to Zavala, if you make a conscious effort to change your personality, it can happen in as little as 20 weeks.
Zavala explains that in order to change your personality, you need to change your 'thinking patterns' and 'behavior.' First, you need to become aware of your own thinking patterns, recognize that you are acting in accordance with those thoughts, and then change your behavior to see how the reactions from those around you change. By repeating this process, you will come to understand what kind of thoughts you have and how you should behave.
'Because personality is your characteristic way of thinking and behaving, these cognitive-behavioral strategies are highly effective at changing personality,' said Zavala. 'By consistently changing the way you think and behave, you can develop lasting habits that will ultimately shape the personality you desire.'
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in Science, Posted by log1h_ik