What is personality, and can you change yours?

The study of personality has a long history in psychology, dating back to Hippocrates, the Greek philosopher and father of medicine. Even in more modern times, Sigmund Freud and other leading researchers have continuously explored the question “What is personality?” 

Psychological experts like Freud developed theories of personality, assuming it was fixed over a person’s lifetime. Now, trait theories accept that personality evolves and that you can intentionally transform your personality. Understanding what personality is, how behavior develops over time, and what steps you can take to change it can help you achieve personal and professional growth.

What is personality?

A personality is the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique. Some examples of personality traits are agreeableness, openness, and extroversion. While many theories of personality claim that personality is fixed, we now know it can change over time. 

Genetics and environment influence personality traits. Along with your personal experiences, your culture, community, and early childhood also influence your psychological development.

A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that major and minor life events alter personality development. Getting married might shift your personality by increasing your conscientiousness. Everyday events, like your partner doing something special for you, can make you become more thoughtful.

Types of personalities

In the 1950s, cardiologists Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman observed a connection between personality characteristics and heart disease. According to their research, Type A people were more prone to heart issues than those with Type B personality types. Over time, this theory was debunked due to lack of evidence. 

Eventually, they expanded their research to include four types:

• Type A personality individuals tend to be ambitious, impatient, aggressive, and goal-oriented.
• Type B personality individuals are most often adaptable to change, patient, creative, and even-tempered.
• Type C personality individuals are known to be perfectionists while remaining analytical and unemotional.
• Type D personality individuals tend to lack self-confidence, are sensitive to rejection, avoid social scenarios, and appear pessimistic.

What is a personality trait?

A personality trait is commonly defined as a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and actions. These internal characteristics are considered the building blocks of personality and vary by individual. While they usually remain relatively stable, they can evolve over time. 

Here are some common personality traits and short definitions:

• Perfectionism: People scoring high on this trait are precise.
• Independence: People scoring high on this trait are self-sufficient.
• Sensitivity: People scoring high on this trait have compassion and empathy.
• Apprehension: People scoring high on this trait are anxious.
• Reasoning: People scoring high on this trait are focused on facts and statistics.

Theories of personality: how does personality develop? 

Personality development is the process of growing and changing your personality over time. Knowing how personality traits develop can help you understand how behaviors shape your interactions and decisions. 

Here are some factors that influence personality:

• Genetics: Heredity plays a role in shaping personality. 
• Family: Parents, family dynamics, and the home environment influence personality development.
• Culture: A person’s system of beliefs, language, values, and religion shapes personality.
• Education: Formal learning experiences contribute to personality development.
• Community: Societal norms and expectations impact personality expression.
• Media: Exposure to television, the internet, and other media influences personality development.

Big Five personality traits

The Big Five Model, developed by psychologists Paul Costa and Robert McCrae, states that five primary personality traits exist. It says that what distinguishes one person from another is how those characteristics vary in strength and intensity. Unlike other personality theories that are absolute, the Big Five Model measures traits on a spectrum.

These are the Big Five personality traits:

• Extroversion: Extroverted people are talkative and outgoing. They get energy from being with others.
• Agreeableness: Agreeable people are empathic, kind, and put others’ needs before their own.
• Conscientiousness: People high in conscientiousness have a tendency to be hardworking, responsible, and self-controlled.
• Openness: People high in openness to experience are creative and eager to learn.
• Neuroticism: Neurotic people are anxious, persistent worriers, and may be moody. 

Behavioral personality theories

Two key contributors to behavioral personality theory include psychologists John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner. Behavioral personality theory emphasizes that behaviors are learned via interaction with the environment. Its theorists are only concerned with measurable, observable actions and don’t consider feelings or emotions because they can’t be quantified.    

Psychodynamic personality theories

Psychologists Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler, and Sigmund Freud all contributed to psychodynamic personality theory. For his part, Freud believed that early childhood events play a large part in shaping our adult lives. According to Freud’s theory of psychosexual development, children progress through five phases of growth. If those phases are completed successfully, the result is a healthy personality. Otherwise, an individual may develop fixations, resulting in unhealthy adult behaviors. 

Humanistic personality theories

Psychologists Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers contributed to humanistic personality theory, which looks at the whole individual. In contrast to Freud’s theory, humanistic psychology personality theories stress the importance of free will and self-actualization in psychological development. These theories of personality also emphasize that humans have unique growth potential and strive to become the best version of themselves they can be.

Biological personality theories

Biological personality theory proposes a correlation between genetics and personality traits. The most widely known biological theorist is German psychologist Hans Eysenck. Eysenck developed the PEN model, which comprises psychoticism, extroversion, and neuroticism, and a range of scores for each trait. It states that if someone scores high in neuroticism, they are more likely to experience anxiety. A low score would indicate they have a calm temperament.

Evolutionary personality theories

Charles Darwin contributed to evolutionary personality theory by proposing that personality traits evolve through natural selection. This theory suggests that valuable cognitive traits are passed down through our ancestors. Some examples of these inherited behaviors are higher levels of anxiety and a fear of predators.

Understanding personality disorders

Personality disorders are persistent behavior patterns that differ dramatically from cultural norms. People with personality disorders may display aberrant behaviors and experience distorted perceptions of reality.

They are organized into three groups, or clusters, with shared characteristics.

Group A personality disorders

People with group A disorders typically display unusual or eccentric thinking.

• Paranoid personality disorder: People with this disorder usually exhibit suspicion and mistrust of others.
• Schizoid personality disorder: People with this condition normally have limited emotional expression and are generally emotionally detached.
• Schizotypal personality disorder: People with this disorder generally have social anxiety and limited close relationships.

Group B personality disorders

People with group B disorders exhibit dramatic and erratic behaviors. 

• Borderline personality disorder: Individuals with this condition typically have unstable moods and fear abandonment.
• Histrionic personality disorder: People with this disorder tend to seek constant attention and are overly emotional.
• Narcissistic personality disorder: People with narcissistic personality disorder typically feel superior to others and want admiration.
• Antisocial personality disorder: People with this disorder tend to have little regard for people’s feelings and can be aggressive.

Group C personality disorders

People with group C disorders display anxious and inhibited behaviors.

• Avoidant personality disorder: People with this disorder tend to exhibit social anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and increased sensitivity to rejection.
• Dependent personality disorder: People with this condition likely perceive themselves to be unable to function without the help of others. They often have attachment behaviors and rely too much on those close to them for their needs.
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: People with this condition usually display perfectionism and controlling behaviors.

Is it possible to change your personality?

Traditionally, personality traits were considered to be inherited and stable. However, psychology research indicates that it is possible to shape your personality, even later in life. Doing so takes self-awareness, conscientiousness, goal setting, and a strong support system. 

There is also recent evidence for personality change through intervention. A study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science shows that digital coaching helps achieve personality changes. Participants who received coaching reported greater transformations than those in the control group.

With openness, hard work, and the right approach, you can become a better version of yourself. Activities for personality development can help you make lasting changes.

Step out of your comfort zone

Stepping outside familiar territory is the key to personal development and growth. The secret is to start with small behavior changes and be consistent. 

First, examine your core values. Some personal values examples include dependability, assertiveness, and adaptability. Then, decide which behaviors you want to change and create an action plan to make those changes. Once you set realistic goals and accomplish them, you’ll feel even more confident in your ability to conquer the unknown.

Act like the person you want to become

One of the best ways to achieve personality change is to behave like a person you want to become. The late Christopher Peterson, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, used this tactic himself. 

Early in his career, he realized that his introversion may be a drawback in the classroom. To conquer his shyness, he learned to embrace extroversion until his outgoing behavior became second nature. Peterson once said, “My behavior is consistently extroverted because I’ve worked to make it that way.”

Challenge your self-limiting beliefs

Personality change starts with challenging the limiting beliefs that may be holding you back. To overcome automatic negative thoughts, you must first become aware of them. 

Starting to journal can increase mindfulness, boost creative thinking, and relieve stress. Track limiting beliefs and ask yourself whether they are fact or fiction. If you determine the belief is inaccurate, you can use the realization to shift your perspective. 

Adopt a growth mindset

If you have a growth mindset, you believe your abilities can develop with time and effort. To cultivate this type of outlook, embrace difficult tasks by leaning into discomfort and valuing the process as much as the destination. When faced with a setback, don’t view it as a failure. Instead, look at it as a learning experience.

Hold yourself accountable

When trying to develop positive personality traits, take steps to hold yourself accountable. For example, you can work with a coach, mental health professional, or accountability partner. Even a friend or family member can provide support. 

By finding someone to encourage and guide you, you can solicit feedback and identify areas for improvement. Just remember to make a habit of celebrating small wins along the way. This approach will build your confidence and help you get motivated to keep going.

Using personality tests

Personality testing helps reveal interests, motivations, preferences, behaviors, and emotional responses. They can build self-awareness by aiding you in objectively interpreting your actions and feelings.

One of the most well-known workplace personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Also referred to as the Myers-Briggs personality test, the MBTI uses a self-reported inventory to identify your personality type.

The Myers-Briggs measures psychological traits based on the following four scales:

• Introversion-extroversion
• Sensing-intuition
• Thinking-feeling
• Judging-perceiving

Some examples of the MBTI personality types include the following:

• ISTJ: This personality type tends to be introverted, quiet, and practical.
• INFJ: INFJs are often sensitive, reserved, and idealistic.
• ENTP: This type tends to be creative, clever, and social.
• ESFP: Those in this category are likely to be spontaneous, resourceful, and outgoing.

In addition to the MBTI, there are many other well-known personality tests, such as:

• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI): The MMPI measures mental health conditions and personality traits using a series of true/false questions.
• HEXACO Personality Inventory: This test considers a person’s personality traits based on six dimensions.
• Cattell’s 16PF Personality Questionnaire: This assessment measures personality and behavior based on 16 core factors.
• Enneagram Typology: The Enneagram groups personality into nine types and identifies one as your basic type.

Develop new traits and reshape your personality

Experts in psychology have confirmed that personality is more malleable than previously believed. With conscientiousness and hard work, you can develop personality traits that benefit your life and interpersonal relationships. 

A coach can help you answer the question “What is personality?” in a way that leads to more effective personal and professional growth. Reshape your personality with a BetterUp Coach to realize your potential and become the person you are meant to be.