The idea is that people cannot change is it true or false?

Question

There is an old adage that says, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." The idea is that people cannot change once their values have become deeply ingrained. Do you agree or disagree with this?

How does your view affect your capacity to be a change agent?

state your reasoning

what part do you play in effecting change?

Answer 1

Totally disagree. I believe that people have the capacity to change if they open their minds and their hearts and realize that they are floundering in a false belief system. Once that is grasped, change is vibrant. However, many people often cling to their thoughts, out of fear, thus do not change. And those that believe that "new tricks" cannot be taught to an "old dog" are those people who will not learn new tricks.
We are all agents of change, some more aware then others.

Answer 2

yes and no

anyone has the ability to change, however inorder to change firstly you have to understand that there is an issue anyway (smoking is bad, i'm fatter than i should be, racism is not good). This is obviously where the first problem lay - what will happen in a persons life or input from others for them to realise that change is needed.

once this has occured, then it's the motivation and courage to work through the issues. (i.e - to stop smoking or to go to the gym)

people can fail at both hurdles - so yes you can teach a dog new tricks, but old habbits may come back

Sorry, i'm not sure what a Change Agent is, but i am a care home manager so i like to think i'm quite good with people

Answer 3

I disagree, both with the concept and your understanding of the old adage. As I understand it the phrase observes the common tendency in humans to be less open to change the older one gets. That is to say, the older you are the less likely you are to take the risks necessary for change to occur. I think this used to be true, but today's senior generation has become so used to the concept of things changing, almost daily, that they are much more likely to embrace the challenge of change then the last generation was. To be an agent of change one must be willing to back up better ideas with facts and intelligent reasoning ... I see a world ripe for this kind of approach. This doesn't affect my capacity for change, but it certainly it vastly increases my effectiveness as said agent.

Answer 4

Quote.."be the change you wish to see in the world"
Gandhi
Myth Busters have proved that 'yes you can teach an old dog new tricks.'
If a person wants to make a change in themselves than they can and they will. But they have to want it bad enough and be strong enough to resist staying the same.
While it is very hard to change someones beliefs and values, sometimes something will happen that will completely change the views of that person. Sometimes it is a near fatal accident. Often inmates will find this change in themselves.
I have fought a hard battle to make a change in myself, away from the uptight angry child that i had become. Into a strong minded person in control of thoughts and emotions.
Maybe once I have mastered myself, I will inspire to help change the world. But one step at a time is my motto, and I am still working the small steps of my own world.

Answer 5

The novice sees many possibilities, the master few.

If you're young and not changing all the time, you are probably not learning.

If you're old and changing all the time, you are probably a very slow learner.

To a young dog, almost every trick is a new one.
It’s not that old dogs can’t lean new tricks,
there just aren’t many tricks an old dog hasn’t learned.
(Especially the ones that help you avoid dying young.)

Anyone with commitment and enthusiasm can be an agent of change.

To be an agent of change for the better, that takes some experience.

Answer 6

If you were older and less versatile people, a chance that she or he would pose a problem in the adjustment. Let be fair that often the dullness of mind has been the cause in adjusting to the new order. It is not complacency, stubbornness, or against any rule for refusing to change. For good, we are often mistaken as die-hards going against it. Spare a thought we are not the same in dexterity and ingenuity. The inequitable performances are fast becoming an issue between haves and haves not. On the other hand, we should be grateful that between the able, less able, and very capable---- universal progression has never been daunted, but instead rising in stupendous growth.

Answer 7

I can only speak from my own experience. And yes, it is possible to change. And to change everything about the self. Through honesty within a meditation practice which reveals the ego self to self and dealing with all past wrong actions and seeing the self in error and accepting the need for change, one can change. The only thing you need is sincerity to do so.
You can improve your qualities, patience, kindness, love, you can wear away at jealousy's, anger and hate.
Yes it is possible to become that better self, but you really have to want to. And you will only want to if you believe it's going to be worth your while.
This opens another world of understanding for you to have to come to terms with, spirituality vrs materialism and tempory pleasure.
Good luck with the improvements.

Answer 8

The question is not whether people can change. It is whether they want to change. It is true that the older a person gets the harder it is for them to accept new ideas, or to want to start over- this is just a product of becoming weary later in life and not having sufficient motivation to want to change.
There is no physical limitation to people changing. All they lack is the willpower and the incentive. It is also an excuse, which can conveniently explain away mental rigidity by advancing years.

Answer 9

I think one of the first steps to self-realization is the formation of the question, "Who am I?"
We then try to define ourselves, "I am this, I like that, etc..." which gives us the tendency to not want to change because it alters our own view of ourselves.
To constantly change with the circumstances denies us a chance to feel stability or security in our stance.
Those with deep convictions cannot fathom the feeling of floating on a breeze like a feather.
But in the end we all are constantly changing, evolving, moving on to the next level...

Answer 10

i disagree........change is the only permanent thing in htis world........do you expect that a person will be the person he is right now after 20 years..of course not....he will definitely change...becasue as we go on...there are a lot of things which may change us.......other people's ideas,opinions,facts,influences etc..will certainly change us..however...it takes time sometimes...to change because change is like a process.....or its a process really.....though there are those persons who are not "accepting" change but still the thought of not accepting change is really a great change in his or her part...an infant will grow up or just grow old..one may become a better person as time passes by or he/she may become worse than ever...