Evidence-Based Question (EBQ): Consistency of Personality Traits Across the Lifespan
Directions: Use the three sources provided to answer all parts of the question below. You must use a different source for Part B and Part C. For Part B and Part C, you must cite the source that you used to answer the question using a parenthetical citation in the following format: “... (Source A).” Write the response to each part of the question in complete sentences. Use appropriate psychological terminology.
Group 1
Using the sources provided, develop and justify an argument about the consistency of personality traits over the lifespan.
Source A
Introduction This research thoroughly examines the stability of personality characteristics in adults over a substantial duration. The primary objective is to scrutinize whether traits such as neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness persist as enduring qualities or change in response to life events. This study provides a deep dive into the persistent nature of these characteristics, assessing their stability amidst life’s evolving circumstances. By analyzing these traits over time, the research aims to shed light on the extent to which individual differences in behavior and emotional patterns are maintained throughout adulthood.
Participants The longitudinal study initially included 1,000 adults aged between 20 and 96. These participants were selected to represent a broad demographic spectrum concerning age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status to ensure diverse and applicable results across the general population.
Method To assess the stability of personality traits, participants completed the NEO Personality Inventory at two points: initially and after a six-year interval. This inventory measures five major personality domains and provides insights into how these traits manifest in behavior. By comparing the results from two points in time, this study aims to identify the relationship between these traits over the years without manipulating any external factors. This setup offers a framework to detect any significant changes or confirm the persistence of these traits over a substantial period.
Results and Discussion Data analysis indicated that the five core personality traits showed high levels of stability across the study period. Specifically, openness and conscientiousness exhibited the highest strength, suggesting that fundamental aspects of how individuals approach life and work remain consistent even as they age. Changes noted were generally minor and did not reflect a substantial shift in personality profile. The findings suggest significant stability in personality traits across the adult lifespan, reinforcing that adult personality is resilient to change despite various life experiences. This stability supports the reliability of personality assessments over time and highlights the potential influence of genetic or early environmental factors on personality development.
The study found that the five personality traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—demonstrated notable stability over the six years. Below is a table summarizing the stability coefficients for each trait, which indicates how consistent the traits were between the two testing periods. The stability coefficients range from 0.75 to 0.83, where one would mean no change at all, and lower values indicate more significant change. These values suggest that while there are minor variations in how traits are expressed, the fundamental aspects of personality remain consistent over time. Specifically, openness and conscientiousness were the most stable traits, showing how individuals engage with new experiences and their level of organization and diligence tend to persist as they age.
Personality Stability Correlations Personality Trait Stability Coefficient Openness 0.83 Conscientiousness 0.82 Extraversion 0.79 Agreeableness 0.76 Neuroticism 0.75
Adapted from Curr Bio. Costa, P.T., & McCrae, R.R. (1997, December). Longitudinal stability of adult personality. Curr Bio. 12, (12), 512-521. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279719761_Longitudinal_Stability_of_Adult_Personality
Source B
Introduction This study explores whether personality traits assessed in adolescence persist into late adulthood. Researchers revisited data from individuals first evaluated at age 14 as part of the Scottish Mental Survey in 1947. They aimed to explore the long-term consistency of personality traits across an expansive 63-year period, examining how these traits might evolve or remain stable as individuals progress from adolescence to old age.
Participants The study utilized data from the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947, selecting participants based on their birth dates to form the 6-Day Sample. Initially, this group included 1,208 adolescents. By 2012, researchers could trace and recontact some of these individuals, with 174 agreeing to participate in the follow-up study. These participants were now elderly, averaging 77 years, providing a unique longitudinal perspective on personality stability.
Method The study’s initial personality assessments were conducted when participants were around 14 years old. Teachers rated the adolescents on six specific personality traits: Self-Confidence, Perseverance, Stability of Moods, Conscientiousness, Originality, and Desire to Excel. These assessments were performed using a 5-point scale ranging from severely lacking to strongly displaying each characteristic, providing a quantitative measure of personality traits. Decades later, when participants reached 77, they were asked to assess themselves on the same six traits. Someone who knew them well also provided ratings on these traits using an identical 5-point scale. This approach ensured that the measurement of traits was consistent throughout the study, allowing for a direct comparison of personality stability over many decades.
Results and Discussion The analysis indicated that the general stability of personality traits from adolescence to late adulthood is relatively low, with significant long-term stability observed only in the trait Stability of Moods and near-significant stability in Conscientiousness. The other traits showed much lower levels of consistency over the years. This suggests that while certain personality aspects like emotional stability and diligence might persist, overall personality traits are prone to change and adapt based on life experiences and aging processes. This challenges the assumption that personality is entirely stable across the lifespan and underscores the complexity of personality development.
Personality Stability Correlations Personality Trait Adolescent vs. Older Age (Self-rated) Adolescent vs. Older Age (Rated by Others) Self-Confidence -0.02 -0.05 Perseverance 0.06 0.07 Stability of Moods 0.01 0.10 Conscientiousness 0.00 0.06 Originality 0.08 -0.06 Desire to Excel -0.02 -0.19 Dependability -0.07 -0.11
Note: Correlation values close to 0 indicate very low stability (little to no correlation between adolescent and older age ratings).
The table shows the stability of certain personality traits from adolescence to older age. The values represent how consistent these traits are over time, with self-ratings and ratings by others included. Most of the correlation values are close to zero, indicating that there is little to no consistent relationship between how these traits were rated in adolescence and how they were rated in older age. Stability of moods shows a correlation of 0.01 for self-ratings and 0.10 for ratings by others from adolescence to older age. These values indicate a very low level of stability, suggesting that even this trait, which shows one of the higher correlations in the study, remains relatively unstable over time.
Adapted from Curr Bio. Harris, M.A., Brett, C.E., Johnson, W., & Deary, I.J. (2016, December). Personality Stability from Age 14 to Age 77 Years. Curr Bio. 31, (8), 868-874. https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2016-50192-004.html
Source C
Introduction This study investigates how personality traits and self-esteem evolve throughout a person’s life, from childhood through old age. It focuses on how these attributes demonstrate stability and change due to various life experiences, emphasizing the interplay between an individual’s inherent characteristics and life contexts.
Participants The study synthesized findings from extensive research involving diverse age groups, including participants from young children to elderly individuals. The study included data from 86 similar studies. This broad participant base allowed for a well-developed analysis of the development of personality and self-esteem throughout different life stages. Combining data from various studies provided a rich and inclusive sample that spanned various demographics. This diversity allowed the researchers to draw broader conclusions about how personality traits and self-esteem change from childhood through old age. The wide range of participants helped illustrate universal aspects of personality development and some unique variations that can occur due to specific life experiences and transitions.
Method Researchers examined data from 86 published articles measuring personality and self-esteem at various points in individuals’ lives and statistically combined these. This approach allowed them to assess how these traits change in response to significant life transitions, including moving from adolescence to adulthood and from active work to retirement. The comprehensive analysis of this extensive data set offered a detailed view of the evolution of self-esteem throughout different life stages.
Results and Discussion The study revealed that personality traits and self-esteem show moderate stability throughout life, meaning they change moderately. Self-esteem typically decreases during adolescence, possibly due to the challenges and changes associated with this stage of life, then increases throughout adulthood, reaching a peak in middle age before declining again in older age. Similarly, personality traits like agreeableness and conscientiousness tend to increase with age, suggesting that people generally become more cooperative and responsible as they age. In contrast, neuroticism shows a decline, indicating that older adults tend to experience fewer negative emotions like anxiety and anger. The study found that while personality and self-esteem exhibit substantial continuity, they are also subject to change, reflecting the dynamic nature of human development.
Stability of Personality Traits Age Group Median Test-Retest Correlation Childhood 0.41 Adolescence 0.44 College Years 0.54 Ages 22 to 29 0.60 Ages 30 to 39 0.64 Ages 50 to 70 0.70
The table illustrates the stability of personality traits at different life stages, measured by test-retest correlations, which show how consistently individuals maintain their personality traits over time. High, positive correlation values indicate greater stability. Stability is relatively low in childhood, with a correlation of 0.41, likely due to rapid developmental changes. By adolescence, stability increases slightly to 0.44. During the college years, the correlation rises to 0.54, indicating that personality traits begin to solidify. From ages 22 to 29, the correlation further increases to 0.60, suggesting continued solidification of traits. The highest stability is observed between ages 50 and 70, with a correlation of 0.70, showing that personality traits are most consistent and experience fewer changes during these years. This pattern demonstrates that although personality traits can change, they generally become more stable and consistent as people age, particularly after reaching midlife.
Adapted from Adv Cell Aging Gerontol. Trzesniewski, K. H., Robins, R. W., Roberts, B. W., & Caspi, A. (2003, December). Personality and self-esteem development across the life span. Adv Cell Aging Gerontol. 15, 163-185. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228669198
Question 1a
Propose a specific and defensible claim based on psychological science that responds to the question of whether personality traits remain consistent over the lifespan.
Question 1b
(i) Support your claim using at least one piece of specific and relevant evidence from one of the sources. (ii) Explain how the evidence from Part B (i) supports your claim using a psychological perspective, theory, concept, or research finding learned in the personality and perspectives or research and statistics units. Be sure to cite the source you used in your response (e.g., "... (Source A)").
Question 1c
(i) Support your claim using an additional piece of specific and relevant evidence from a different source than the one used in Part B (i). (ii) Explain how the evidence from Part C (i) supports your claim using a different psychological perspective, theory, concept, or research finding learned in the personality and perspectives and research and statistics units than the one that was used in Part B (ii). Be sure to cite the source you used in your response (e.g., "... (Source B)").
Teach with AI superpowers
Why teachers love Class Companion
Import assignments to get started in no time.
Create your own rubric to customize the AI feedback to your liking.
Overrule the AI feedback if a student disputes.