Have you ever wished you could be better organized or more sociable? Perhaps you're a constant worrier, and you'd prefer to be a little more carefree? Actually at least 2/3 of people would like to change some elements of their personality. In the past, such desires appeared to be fruitless. One's personality was thought to be formed in childhood and to remain fixed throughout his entire life.
Recent research from psychology professor Nathan Hudson and his colleagues, however, challenges this expectation of a fixed personality. With the right psychological strategies and enough effort, they say, many people can successfully shape their desired personality.
Their interventions (干预) typically involve recommending regular activities that reflect the personality traits(特征) people wish to adopt. Introverts who wish to be more outgoing, for example, might have the goal of introducing themselves to a stranger once a week, or making small talk with the cashier in the supermarket. Someone who wishes to be more organized and disciplined might be asked to carefully double-check an email before sending it, or to write a to-do list before going to bed.
While these tasks may seem insignificant, the aim is for the thinking patterns and behaviors they produce to become habitual. And the evidence so far suggests it works remarkably well. In one 15-week trial of 400 people, participants accepted an average of two challenges each week. After they completed those tasks, their traits shifted in the desired direction, according to a personality questionnaire (调查问卷).
The unexpected personality change should be good news for anyone who wishes they were a bit more sociable, organized, or happy-go-lucky. Another potential benefit is that awareness of this research could help improve mental health.
People always believe negative feelings are just part of who they are, and there is little they can do to change them. But what if educating people about their potential for personality change could place them on a more positive track? To test this idea, Harvard professor of psychology, John Weisz, and his partner selected a group of 100 teenagers who had previously shown signs of anxiety or depression. They took a computerized course that explained the science of brain plasticity(可塑性), and were then given worksheets to strengthen what they had learned.
When Weisz checked in on the teens' mental health nine months later, the students reported a significant decrease in their anxiety and depression compared with those who had instead taken part in a course on "emotional expression".
Whether you are struggling with serious issues or simply want to polish off your rougher edges, remember that character is within your own hands and you have the power to become what you want to be.
