From the Research
Your personality is not set in stone at any specific point in life, and it can continue to develop and change throughout adulthood. While core personality traits begin forming in early childhood and become more stable through adolescence, research shows that personality continues to develop and change throughout adulthood, with the most significant development occurring during the first 30 years of life, and traits becoming relatively more stable after age 30 1. However, even in middle and older age, personality can still change in response to major life events, trauma, consistent effort, therapy, or significant environmental changes. The brain maintains neuroplasticity throughout life, allowing for ongoing adaptation.
Some key points to consider:
- Personality changes tend to follow certain patterns as we age, with people generally becoming more conscientious, agreeable, and emotionally stable over time 2.
- Therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy, can be effective in treating personality disorders and promoting positive personality change 3, 4, 5.
- The interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental influences plays a significant role in shaping personality, and this interaction continues throughout life 1.
- Recent studies have shown that integrative therapy, which combines elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy, can be an effective treatment for generalized anxiety disorder and may be more effective than cognitive-behavioral therapy alone 1.
Overall, the evidence suggests that personality is not fixed and can continue to develop and change throughout life, with a combination of genetic and environmental factors influencing this process. Therefore, it is essential to recognize that personality is dynamic and can be shaped by various factors, including therapy, life events, and environmental changes.