Psychology: Which life events can change our personality as adults

"That's just the way I am," many of us like to say. But is that really true? Are our personality traits fixed from childhood and no longer develop significantly? For a long time, science struggled to answer this question, with studies providing no clear answers.

Research suggests that certain dramatic experiences can indeed lead to changes in our personality. Researchers analyzed 16 years of data from a total of 35,000 Australians. They based their findings on the psychological concept of the "Big Five," the five essential aspects of human personality: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. These five character traits are present in all people, but vary in intensity. Our individual personality is formed based on these characteristics.

Until now, it was largely assumed that our scores on these traits are established quite early in life. However, the study suggests that there are certain life events that can still change our level of these traits.

These 4 dramatic experiences can change our character throughout our lives 1. Illness

According to the study authors, those who have suddenly become ill or suffered a serious injury become more extroverted – women, incidentally, three times more so than men. When family members become ill, it also makes women more extroverted and open. The researchers did not observe this effect in men. Could this be related to the fact that women in Western society take on a large portion of care work and therefore care more for their fellow human beings (in both senses of the word)?

2. Money worries

According to the study, financial problems can also be so drastic that they shift our personality traits. Those who suffer from severe financial worries tend to become more extroverted and less conscientious. Incidentally, financial problems make men less emotionally stable – the researchers did not observe this effect in women.

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3. Wedding

A wedding can also have a profound impact on our personalities. What was particularly interesting was that there was a very significant difference between women and men: On average, women become more emotionally unstable, less empathetic, and less considerate after marriage. Men, on the other hand, don't seem to change much after getting married.

4. Pension

According to the study, retirement has the opposite effect. Here, the researchers were able to confirm what they call the "Grumpy Old Man" hypothesis. Men apparently become more disagreeable, less empathetic, and less considerate upon retirement, while women don't change significantly with the end of their working lives. Well, at least the effect of marriage is balanced out!

Of course, such study results aren't applicable to every single person on this planet. But they still provide fascinating insights into the human psyche. Perhaps you recognize one or more of these effects in yourself or someone close to you?

Brigitte

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