Personality, Stability, Development, And Change

Question 1

Evidence for Stability

Answer 1

Studies have shown that personality traits remain relatively stable over time, with high correlations in trait scores measured a decade apart. For example, the correlation coefficient can be as high as r = .90.

Question 2

Predicting Life Outcomes

Answer 2

Childhood personality ratings can predict adult life outcomes. For instance, children rated as “inhibited” tend to take longer to find stable romantic partners and jobs in adulthood.

Question 3

Stability of Personality Disorders

Answer 3

Personality disorders tend to be stable throughout a person’s life, with therapy having limited impact on changing these conditions.

Question 4

Causes of Stability

Answer 4

Several factors contribute to the stability of personality, including genetics, early life experiences, and environmental factors.

Question 5

Birth Order

Answer 5

Birth order can influence personality traits. Firstborns may tend to be more conventional and supportive of traditional values, while laterborns might exhibit greater independence and open-mindedness.

Question 6

Early Adverse Experiences

Answer 6

Negative childhood experiences, such as rejection or bullying, can have long-lasting effects on personality development, leading to difficulties in relationships and emotional well-being.

Question 7

Person-Environment Transactions

Answer 7

People tend to seek out and create environments that align with their personality traits, which can further reinforce and stabilize those traits over time

Question 8

Active person– environment transaction

Answer 8

Person seeks out compatible environments and avoids incompatible ones

Question 9

Reactive person– environment transaction

Answer 9

Different people respond differently to the same situation

Question 10

Evocative person– environment transaction

Answer 10

Aspect of an individual’s personality leads to behavior that changes the situations he or she experiences

Question 11

Personality Trait Changes

Answer 11

When personality traits change, they often change together. Older adults tend to experience greater stability in their personality traits, primarily due to their more stable environments as they settle into their lives.

Question 12

Cumulative Continuity Principle

Answer 12

Individual differences in personality tend to become more consistent as a person matures, with personality traits being relatively stable across the life span. This principle suggests that consistency increases with age.

Question 13

Psychological Maturity

Answer 13

Psychological maturity involves behavioral consistency and traits that enable a person to fulfill adult roles. Adolescents with relatively mature personalities tend to undergo less change over the next decade, and recent research suggests that people worldwide may be becoming more psychologically mature.

Question 14

Personality Development

Answer 14

Personality development refers to changes in an individual’s personality traits over time. It involves shifts in the mean level of traits as people age, reflecting differences between older and younger individuals.

Question 15

Longitudinal Studies

Answer 15

Longitudinal studies track the same individuals over an extended period, measuring their personality traits multiple times. They offer a more comprehensive view of how personality develops and changes across the lifespan.

Question 16

Maturity Principle of Development

Answer 16

The maturity principle suggests that traits associated with performing adult roles, such as conscientiousness and emotional stability, tend to increase with age. However, there may be limits to this principle in late old age.

Question 17

Individual Differences in Personality Change

Answer 17

While there are consistent trends in mean-level personality changes across age groups, individual differences exist. Some people may show different patterns of personality change or experience minimal change over time.

Question 18

William James and Personality Development

Answer 18

The traditional belief that personality “sets like plaster” after a certain age, often attributed to psychologist William James, has been challenged by research showing that personality traits continue to change over several decades.

Question 19

Causes of Personality Development

Answer 19

Personality development is influenced by various factors, including physical development (e.g., IQ, linguistic ability, hormonal changes) and changes in social roles at different life stages.

Question 20

Social Clock

Answer 20

The social clock represents societal expectations and pressures that dictate the timing of important life events. People who adhere to this clock receive social approval, while those who deviate may feel out of sync with society.

Question 21

Development of Narrative Identity

Answer 21

Narrative identity involves the development of three aspects over time: seeing oneself as an actor, becoming an agent guided by goals and values, and becoming the author of one’s life story. This narrative provides a holistic view of a person’s life and can change in response to major life events.

Question 22

Themes in Narrative Identity

Answer 22

Narrative identity can feature various themes, including “agency,” which emphasizes challenging oneself and accomplishing goals, and “redemption,” which involves finding positive outcomes in initially negative events. These themes can reflect an individual’s personality traits and impact behavior and habits.

Question 23

Influence of Cultural Background on Narrative Identity

Answer 23

People from different cultural backgrounds may construct narrative identities differently. For example, nonimmigrant European-Canadians may focus on stable aspects, while Asian immigrants may emphasize how life events affect personality and future actions.

Question 24

Goals Across the Life Span

Answer 24

Life goals evolve with age. In youth, goals center around future preparation, learning, career, and relationships. However, in old age (around 70 and beyond), priorities shift towards emotionally meaningful connections, regulating emotions, and avoiding troublesome interactions. These shifts in goals are influenced by one’s perspective on time and expectations of remaining life.

Question 25

Personality Change

Answer 25

Personality change is a dynamic process that can occur over a person’s lifespan. Various factors and experiences can contribute to personality change, including psychotherapy, interventions, and life events. Understanding the mechanisms of personality change can shed light on how individuals evolve and adapt over time.

Question 26

Desire for Personality Change

Answer 26

A significant percentage of individuals express a desire to change aspects of their personality. This desire often leans toward becoming more extraverted, conscientious, agreeable, and open to experience while reducing neuroticism. Such desires align with the traits many people seek in their romantic partners, reflecting a preference for complementary personalities.

Question 27

Methods for Personality Change

Answer 27

Several methods have the potential to induce personality change. These methods include psychotherapy, general interventions (aimed at life outcomes), targeted interventions (focused on specific traits), and various life experiences. Understanding the efficacy and limitations of each method can aid in facilitating desired personality changes.

Question 28

Psychotherapy

Answer 28

Psychotherapy has been a traditional route for attempting to change personality. Approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and insight-oriented therapy have been used to facilitate personality change. Research suggests that psychotherapy can produce long-term behavior change, but it may also have some potential downsides, such as increased stress and neuroticism in some cases.

Question 29

General Interventions

Answer 29

General intervention programs are designed to improve various aspects of individuals’ lives, such as completing education, reducing criminal behavior, and enhancing employment prospects. While these programs may not explicitly target personality change, they can indirectly influence personality traits, especially when they lead to positive life outcomes.

Question 30

Targeted Interventions

Answer 30

Targeted intervention programs aim to specifically address and modify certain personality traits. For instance, programs may focus on increasing openness to experience in older adults or reducing neuroticism in high-risk children. Tailored interventions have the potential to bring about meaningful personality change.

Question 31

Behaviors and Life Experiences

Answer 31

Behaviors and life experiences can influence personality change. Engaging in regular exercise, experiencing significant life events such as starting college or losing a job, and even traveling to other cultures can impact personality traits. Understanding how various life experiences affect personality can offer insights into personal growth and adaptation.