Personality Traits Change In Adulthood

Earlier research showed that personality traits did not change from adulthood to old age. However, as described in the article, “Personality Traits Change in Adulthood”, this assumption is no longer accurate. “Research now shows that personality traits continue to change in adulthood and often into old age and that these changes may be quite substantial and consequential” (Roberts & Mroczek, 2008). This finding is surprisingly accurate and has been evident through the experiences of the older adults that I interact with at my job. Albeit, there are individuals that I work with who I have been told that their personality has been the same since the first day they started work at the agency where I work. I find it difficult to comprehend that these individuals have not experience a small change their personalities at any given point of their lives. This article provided support that there are changes in personality traits on a mean-level and individual level into old age.
The researchers in this article described mean-level change as “gains and/or losses in specific personality traits over a pre specified period of time and age in the life course for a population of individuals” (Roberts & Mroczek, 2008). One example of mean-level change
However, the most interesting conclusion mentioned was the fourth conclusion. The authors stated that “With age, people become more confident, warm, responsible and calm” (Roberts &Mroczek, 2008).This was an interesting conclusion because this seems to be the case with the individuals that I interact with. For example, in my family there are a few individuals that I share personal experiences since they have these personality traits. These individuals are empathic, compassionate, willing to share positive and negative experiences, encouraging and willing to give advice. Ideally, these personality traits are what I look for when I meet someone