Guide

Can your personality change?

Personality is fairly stable, but it isn't fixed. The Big Five traits shift gradually across adulthood, and research suggests people can change some traits deliberately.

Stable, but not set in stone

Big Five scores are fairly consistent over time: if you score high on openness today, you'll probably still score above average in ten years. But consistency relative to other people isn't the same as staying the same. Most people change in similar directions as they age, and individuals change at different rates.

Twin and family studies suggest that genes account for a substantial share of the differences between people's traits, often estimated at around half, with the rest shaped by experience and environment.

The maturity principle

On average, adults become more conscientious and more agreeable, and less neurotic, from their late teens through middle age. Psychologists call this the maturity principle. The changes are gradual and vary a lot from person to person, but they appear across many cultures and studies.

What drives change

Taking on new roles, such as a first job or a long-term relationship, which reward reliability and cooperation
Major life events, both positive and negative
Sustained changes in environment, such as moving countries or changing careers
Deliberate practice of new habits over months, not days

Can you change on purpose?

Studies of people who set goals to change a trait suggest modest change is possible when it's backed by concrete behaviors practiced over time. Therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral approaches, has also been linked to lower neuroticism. The key is acting differently, repeatedly, until the new way becomes habitual.

Why measure it

Knowing where you are now is a useful starting point, whether you want to change or simply understand yourself. Retaking a Big Five test every year or two is a simple way to see whether and how you're shifting.

If you take it during an especially stressful or low period, bear in mind that your mood can shift your answers, so a single result from a hard time isn't the whole picture.

The five traits

Openness Curiosity, imagination and appetite for new ideas and experiences. Conscientiousness Organization, self-discipline, reliability and drive to achieve. Extraversion Sociability, assertiveness, energy and positive emotion. Agreeableness Trust, cooperation, compassion and consideration for others. Neuroticism Sensitivity to stress, worry and negative emotions.

More guides

Big Five vs. MBTI Types vs. traits: how the two most popular models compare. Am I an introvert or an extrovert? Why extraversion is a spectrum and how to find where you land. Can stress or depression change your Big Five scores? Why results shift during hard times, and when to retake. How accurate are Big Five tests? What makes a Big Five test reliable, and its limits. Do similar personalities get along better? What the research says about similarity and getting along. How to read your Big Five percentile scores What your percentiles mean, and what they don't. The Big Five at work How each trait tends to show up in how you work. The Dark Triad and the Big Five Narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy, and how they fit. Attachment styles and the Big Five How attachment patterns relate to personality traits. Can AI tell your personality? What algorithms can and can't infer about your traits.

Common questions

Is personality genetic?

Partly. Twin studies suggest roughly half of the differences between people's Big Five traits are heritable. The rest reflects experience and environment.

At what age does personality stop changing?

It doesn't fully stop. Change is fastest in young adulthood and slows later, but measurable shifts continue throughout life.

Which trait is easiest to change?

Research is still developing, but studies of intentional change have found shifts in several traits. Behavior-based goals, practiced consistently, matter more than which trait you choose.

For self-reflection and education only. This isn't a clinical or diagnostic tool and isn't a substitute for professional psychological or medical advice.