The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal

You can change your personality. Start small

By Elizabeth Bernstein

10 Jan 2023 · 4 min read

Editor's Note

For decades, psychologists have been under the belief that once we have reached adulthood we can no longer change our personality. The WSJ reports on recent research which suggests otherwise.

Many of us have one aspect of our personality we’d love to change. A short temper. Inability to let things go. A penchant for procrastination.

For years, researchers thought it was impossible to change your personality. It was fully formed by early adulthood and that’s it.

Sign in to informed

  • Curated articles from premium publishers, ad-free
  • Concise Daily Briefs with quick-read summaries
  • Read, listen, save for later, or enjoy offline
  • Enjoy personalized content
Or

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.