How to tell if you have a changeable personality according to science

We like to imagine ourselves as unfinished masterpieces. But is that wishful thinking?

[Source photo: Renata Hamuda/Getty Images]

BY Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Most people believe they are far more capable of changing their personality than they actually are. This is hardly surprising. Humans are deeply invested in flattering illusions about themselves. We routinely overestimate our intelligence, morality, attractiveness, and future prospects. Psychologists refer to this as the “better-than-average effect,” though “wishful narcissism” might be more precise. Unsurprisingly, personality is no exception. We like to imagine ourselves as unfinished masterpieces rather than stubbornly repetitive creatures of habit who have already maxed out on their limited potential. (Not sure about you but, in my case, the former is definitely true!)

And yet all it takes is attending one of those excruciating high-school reunions to realize how little people really change. The former class bully may now wear Patagonia vests and discuss real-estate investments, but the same appetite for dominance usually lingers beneath the surface. The class clown still hijacks conversations for attention. The........

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