Does personality change on its own, through the effect of time?

Answer 1

As far as I know, personality is affected over time through two, key factors: Maturity (as your body and your brain grows older, so does your personality), and surroundings (life experiences, traumatic events, etc.) That help?

Answer 2

I don't think personality changes on its own through the effect of time. I think we have to make a conscious effort to change and it can be very hard work - sometimes it requires professional help like therapy.

If you are talking about changes in personality due to physical challenges or the aging process - yes, I suppose that can effect personality too (although, usually not for the better).

Personality is such a complex thing - and it is composed of so many things - that I'm sure such a complicated issue requires a great deal of thought, analysis, but that does not necessarily result in change. Changing is the hardest and most challenging thing anyone can do. Of course, I am talking about changing for the better, not for the worse.

So, here's to all the people who are working towards changing their personalities for the better through their own efforts. Good luck to us all in this endeavor.

Answer 3

I think that with maturation and life experiences personalities have the potential to fluctuate, but I don't think that time solely has the ability to effect personality. Personalities generally stay constant, I think, unless people attempt to change or an event occurs in ones life thats dramatic enough to provoke a change in personality.

Answer 4

Apparently our personalities are already formed by the time we are 6. So to change an aspect in our personality as we get older would take an effort, since we are so used to doing what we do. Our personalities stay the same throughout our life, we just portray them in different way as we get older. But it is possible to change our characters.

Answer 5

Personality is relatively stable throughout our lifespan.

This is why personality disorders are included on the axis 2 of the DSM-IV-TR (the psychiatric bible) with mental retardation.

Essentially, like retardation, you can teach new skills, but you can't make them smarter.

A good example would be the school bully. You cant turn him into a flower child, but you can direct that energy into being a protector, or like trying to teach someone to have a sense of humor does not.

The key for personality is to learn to direct, and work with natural tendencies.

Answer 6

Your personality is made up of the personality of all the people you have met during your life. Some people affect your personality more than others, but every single person you've ever met has set his or her mark on you. Hence the importance of a healthy circle of friends. :-)

Answer 7

My personality never changed I just learnd over the years to hide or display the real me however one becomes more plasit and relaxed about everything the passion also fades away.
Take care!

Answer 8

"Hello cynthia! As soon as I read your question I realized it is one of my very favorite. Why? Because change (understanding) is so good for us. I first read some theory of personality just after adolescence. Although I gained knowledge of myself, I was unable to assimilate much of it into practical use; however, for some reason every 3 or 4 years I undergo changes in my understanding ... I call them "epiphanies." During and after my epiphanies, I reach a new understanding which catapults me to higher levels of thoughts and actions. Some things seemed to fall into place on their own. I don't attempt to change anything, it just happeneds. Since I experience these epiphanies about every 3 or 4 years, I can hardly wait for the next ones to show up.
Concretely, I morph into modes of behavior that enabled me to overcome and eliminate some influences of avarice, pride, covetousness and jealousy ... the more I understand vices in me the easier it becomes to read them in the faces of others.
Strangely, sadness accompanys me after each epiphany. After seeking help to reconcile the periods of deep depression, it became obvious that my sadness was caused by sudden changes in my capacity, during growth, to understand my new realities. I'm sad for a while because my old "self" changes into a new one. I feel so comfortable in my old self that I experience sadness and fear (terror) in giving up the old for the new.
Each new plateau is a thrill beyond any previous pleasures.
Slowly, but inexorably, I began to see myself in the faces of my old friends. Now, in the faces of everyone I meet. Remarkably, I keep finding those who have more or less "epiphanies" than I. Some old friends, whom I reach up to, are light years ahead of me in understanding. Some are struggling to reach up to me. In this way I become congnizant that new selfs are evolving everywhere ... now more than ever.
Another remarkable truth for me is that it has become much easier to reach out to others. In doing so I experience less fear, anger and stress. It seems quite magical that the methods of my thoughts have evolved this way. Undoubtedly, I have become "me" through rather serendipitous, ephiphanous processes due to (I believe) my genetic and social inheritances.
In the way you have written your short question, I get the feeling that we are already old friends. I would like to read more from you. Thanks for the connection!"

Answer 9

Yes, people change as they mature.... thought their personality has some aspects that will always carry over

Answer 10

yes. personalities change becoz as we mature and react to our environment, our mind and bodies goes through changes which affect the way we convey ourselves.