Personality Isn’t as Stable as We Thought
Researchers don't see personality as fixed.
Posted March 7, 2026 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma
For the last century, personality has been treated as set in stone. We viewed our traits as our underlying essence, shaping how we think about the world and how we behave.
And we believed a personality test could help us uncover that underlying essence. Once you learned your type, you could then make career and lifestyle choices that fit. We assumed that since personality is relatively stable, the smartest strategy was to work within its limits.
But over the past two decades, personality science has undergone a shift. Instead of viewing traits as fixed qualities, psychologists increasingly recognize personality as patterns that can evolve.
Personality Traits Are Descriptive, Not Causal
In psychological science, personality traits are descriptive labels for typical patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
For example, if you tend to imagine worst-case-scenarios and frequently seek reassurance, you would probably be described as higher in emotional sensitivity. If you tend to plan, organize tasks, and follow through on commitments, you’d probably be labeled as high in conscientiousness .
When you take a personality test, your answers are based on how you’ve behaved in the past. The report— labeling you as emotionally sensitive or conscientious—is just summarizing the information you gave it; it is not divining your true nature.
The trait label is a description of what you tend to do, not a fixed internal force determining what you will definitely do in the future. In other words, personality traits do not cause behavior; they summarize the patterns that have already happened.
Data confirms the idea that personality can shift. Long-term studies following people for decades have consistently found that traits change over time.
On average, people become more emotionally stable, more conscientious, and more relationship-oriented as they age.
But we don’t have to be passive passengers along for the ride while our personalities naturally evolve in response to the circumstances of our lives.
Recently, psychological researchers, including myself, have demonstrated that personality can shift more quickly when people intentionally practice new ways of thinking and behaving. Strategies for purposeful personality change focus on two core processes: adjusting thinking patterns and experimenting with new behaviors.
For example, someone who tends to procrastinate may notice thoughts like “I need the adrenaline of the last minute to get motivated.” Personality change starts by trying on alternative thoughts like “planning is a skill I can learn.” Or, “I don’t literally need adrenaline to open a Word document.”
These small shifts in thinking may make it easier to test out small behavioral changes —like setting a timer and working for five minutes. When you try something new, you gather new evidence about what actually happens when you show up differently. And that can change what you think you’re capable of. Over time, these repeated changes snowball, leading to lasting trait change.
The Implication for Personal Growth
This new understanding of personality reframes how we think about growth. We used to ask “What kind of person am I?” But the better question is “What kind of person does the life I want require?”
For example, if you want to move into a leadership position at work, it might be useful to be emotionally steady, assertive , and open to new ideas. If you want supportive friendships, being open, honest, and willing to express vulnerability. If these qualities don’t come naturally to you, it is absolutely possible to develop them by making the small shifts we discussed above.
At first, changing your behavior and thinking patterns may feel uncomfortable. But discomfort is often a signal that you’re stepping outside of well-worn patterns. It doesn’t mean you’re being inauthentic or fake.
A Different Way to Think About Personality
Personality is not a set of guardrails that pre-determines where you can go. The traits or types you are assigned after you take a personality test are simply a snapshot of the patterns you’ve practiced most consistently up to this point. When you begin practicing different patterns—new thoughts, new responses to situations—you’re shifting your traits.
This is the promise of the new science of personality.
If you’re interested in learning how to intentionally shape the traits that influence your work, relationships, and well-being, check out The Personality Edit , my science-backed program for intentional growth.
Personality Trait Change in Adulthood . Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2008 Feb. B.W. Roberts et al.
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Shannon Sauer-Zavala, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, treatment development researcher, and former lazy person.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.