Does changing our character over time

The nature of a direct impact on the way we behave in different circumstances, and therefore the rest of our lives as a whole. Interestingly, personality traits are given to us once and for all, or change over time? And can we do to influence them?

Why do people behave this way and not otherwise? Usually we attribute this character, specific personality traits peculiar to that person thinking patterns and behaviors that consistently appear in different situations.

Influence of the nature of the behavior was the subject of lively debate among psychologists, even with 1960. Some of them thought that it was the circumstances have the greatest impact on our behavior. Some even argued that personality traits - it is a figment of our imagination and in reality they do not exist.

But in the past two decades, more and more studies confirm that the characteristic features of the person are real. The way others perceive and describe the person, says a lot about his behavior.

The influence of personal qualities on our actions easier to notice if observe the behavior in different circumstances. In each situation has an impact on the nature of us and conditions, and other factors: thoughts, feelings, and goals. But personality traits one way or another will appear. For example, one person is almost always arrives on time, and the other, on the contrary, always late.

In every language of the world there are thousands of words describing a person's character, but most of them can be divided into five main groups:

1. extraversion: open, assertive, energetic or calm, closed.
2. goodwill: compassionate, gentle, trusting, or indifferent, argumentative.
3. Integrity: neat, hard-working, responsible, or disorganized, scattered.
4. Negative emotions: prone to depression and mood swings, or calm, cheerful.
5. Susceptibility: curious, artistic, imaginative or disinterested in aesthetics and abstract ideas.

Although personality traits are relatively stable over time, they can gradually change throughout life. Many research show that with age people tend to become more flexible, conscientious and emotionally stable. But these changes are taking place over decades rather than a few days or weeks. Sudden, abrupt changes are rare.

Personality traits can influence human life. When conducting experiments using scientific tests can predict how the character will affect some areas of our lives:

• performance in school and at work;
• relationships with family, friends, and the second half;
• life satisfaction and emotional well-being;
• health and life expectancy.

Of course, these areas are influenced by life circumstances, not entirely depend on the personality traits. Nevertheless, the character greatly affects our lives and helps to explain why two people are in the same circumstances, in the end come to different results.

Consider one of the most important and potentially difficult life decisions: whom to choose in the life of satellites. The researchers, who for years followed the pair came to the conclusion that for good and a long marriage, you need to choose a responsible and emotionally stable husband.

But scientists have found is not all there is to know about personality traits. For example, it is known that the character can be changed, with it usually occurs gradually and in a better way. However, the reasons for which changes occur is still unknown.

Perhaps this is due to the importance of social roles. When we try on a certain social role, which requires us to appropriate behavior (Eg, at work need to be hardworking and responsible), over time, this pattern of behavior is integrated into our personality.

A study by the Hudson Nathan (Nathan Hudson) and Chris Frehley (Chris Fraley) in 2015 confirms that people can change their character if they constantly make an effort and try to achieve their goals. Positive personality changes occur faster when people see the meaning and joy in their lives.