When we consider what defines individuality, for some, personality traits would be one of the first descriptors that come to mind. Personality traits are recognized as influencing an individual’s way of thinking, feeling, and behavior that persist over time through a variety of situations (Allport & Odbert, 1936). Of the thousands of personality traits attributed in the English language, the Big Five theoretical model is used to encompass many of them (Allport & Odbert, 1936). This model uses all the important traits our language has developed into five dimensions. These traits are extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience (Costa & McCrae, 1992; Widiger, 2001). As one research study can attest,
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Such events could include changes in relationships, death of a close significant figure, fluctuations in household size, or an occupational change (Specht, Egloff, & Schmukle, 2011). The Costa and McCrae study (1994), concedes that a person’s personality is matured biologically at age 30. Therefore, major life experiences throughout adulthood should have no effect on any of the Big Five personality traits (Specht et al., 2011). Specht et al. (2011) sought to test this claim by performing a cross-sectional study on 20,000 individuals spanning from middle to old age adults representing all demographics of the German population. The data collected occurred at two points across the four-year longitudinal study consisting of a survey of questions asking if one of the mentioned major life events had occurred since the previous meeting. The findings aid in indicating mean-level changes in one’s personality (Specht et al., 2011). Results demonstrated that that all of the Big Five had a mean-level change greater than zero that was affected by one of the major events. Specht et al. (2011) concluded from this that the Big Five changes as the result of major life events but depending on the age of an individual, the rate at which change occurs varies. There were more prominent changes that occurred in young and old …show more content…
Berg and Johansson (2014) predominantly focused on the changes of extraversion and neuroticism of individuals aged between 80-98. Gathering data throughout a six-year period, it was discovered that a gradual decrease in age-related extraversion and stable neuroticism is a result of the correlation of education, cognitive impairment, and the health-related factor of sensory function (Berg and Johansson, 2014). Lastly, a survey by Srivastava et al. (2003) sampled 132,515 participants spanning the ages of 21-60. Although limited by self-reports, the aim was to measure the compared trends of a Big Five in age. In short, the authors found while not condemning the statement that personality is a result of biological processes, it is not the sole determinant and is susceptible to change and mature well throughout middle adulthood (Srivastava et al., 2003). These additional reports continue to build upon the hypothesis that personality does in fact change and mature as a person’s life progresses as a result of major life events, health deterioration affecting social situations, and due to the exposure of a variety of normative and unexpected external
Such events could include changes in relationships, death of a close significant figure, fluctuations in household size, or an occupational change (Specht, Egloff, & Schmukle, 2011). The Costa and McCrae study (1994), concedes that a person’s personality is matured biologically at age 30. Therefore, major life experiences throughout adulthood should have no effect on any of the Big Five personality traits (Specht et al., 2011). Specht et al. (2011) sought to test this claim by performing a cross-sectional study on 20,000 individuals spanning from middle to old age adults representing all demographics of the German population. The data collected occurred at two points across the four-year longitudinal study consisting of a survey of questions asking if one of the mentioned major life events had occurred since the previous meeting. The findings aid in indicating mean-level changes in one’s personality (Specht et al., 2011). Results demonstrated that that all of the Big Five had a mean-level change greater than zero that was affected by one of the major events. Specht et al. (2011) concluded from this that the Big Five changes as the result of major life events but depending on the age of an individual, the rate at which change occurs varies. There were more prominent changes that occurred in young and old …show more content…
Berg and Johansson (2014) predominantly focused on the changes of extraversion and neuroticism of individuals aged between 80-98. Gathering data throughout a six-year period, it was discovered that a gradual decrease in age-related extraversion and stable neuroticism is a result of the correlation of education, cognitive impairment, and the health-related factor of sensory function (Berg and Johansson, 2014). Lastly, a survey by Srivastava et al. (2003) sampled 132,515 participants spanning the ages of 21-60. Although limited by self-reports, the aim was to measure the compared trends of a Big Five in age. In short, the authors found while not condemning the statement that personality is a result of biological processes, it is not the sole determinant and is susceptible to change and mature well throughout middle adulthood (Srivastava et al., 2003). These additional reports continue to build upon the hypothesis that personality does in fact change and mature as a person’s life progresses as a result of major life events, health deterioration affecting social situations, and due to the exposure of a variety of normative and unexpected external