Citation

Hudson NW, Fraley RC. Person. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 2016; 42(5): 603-615.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0146167216637840

PMID

27016068

Abstract

Recent research has found that a vast majority of people want to change their personality traits--and they may be able to find some degree of success in doing so. However, desires for self-change have been theoretically and empirically linked to reduced well-being. The present study utilized a longitudinal design to better understand the associations between people's desires and attempts to change their personality traits and their psychological well-being.

RESULTS indicated that possessing change goals did not necessarily predict growing deficits in well-being over time. In contrast, people who were able to change their personality traits in ways that aligned with their desires tended to experience increases in well-being over time. These findings are consistent with theory that dissatisfaction can precipitate change goals, and successful change can ameliorate dissatisfaction.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; Adult; Female; Goals; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Personal Satisfaction; Personality; Personality Assessment; personality development; Self Concept; Volition; volitional change; well-being; Young Adult