Can You Really Change Your Personality?

Your personality is often treated as an immutable part of who you are, but while changing it is difficult, it’s certainly not impossible.

Hosted by: Brit Garner
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[spennyb]

"Time to act extroverted" is exactly what I think when I walk into a party.

[aliceb]

Trauma also helps change personalities. I went from confident social butterfly to meek, extremely socially anxious/awkward self-doubting introvert.

[KiwiinSpace]

I guess in the words of Tom Hardy from Christopher Nolan's Inception: "Course it's possible, it's just bloody difficult."

[-_--_-]

This is off topic, but I think we should commend the speaker. Her good skills are really noticeable and natural!

[BriefBrainSnacks]

My personality is completely different when I am about to eat ice cream than when my cat jumps on my face at 2AM.

[pranavlimaye]

"You are what you eat". So just change what you eat





Excuse me while I go look for a delicious extrovert

[LucificNight]

"Like most things online, that just isn't true."


-Video posted online.


Not saying the video is wrong or anything: I just found the irony of that statement amusing.

[bjarnes.]

My personality drastically changed after going through my first identity crisis/depression/puberty.

[galaxychar]

Childhood bullying and trauma changed my personality quite a lot.

[theMoporter]

I've gotten great at "passing" as sociable when I want to but it still makes me feel tired and I still hate doing it. This video leaves out whether practicing these traits actually improved people's lives, rather than making them better at fitting into a box.

[pokeman]

Wow these studies sure make being introverted sound like a bad thing

[CarlLaberfeld]

Short term changes can be achieved through *alcohol* consumption. (Not suggested)

[rachaelautera]

As someone with social anxiety I can tell you that it takes a lot of work to come out of your shell if you’re introverted. I’ve been working on my issues around socializing for around five years and it’s worked, but not without making that effort every moment for every day. It was so hard at first but now, I can do things like talk to strangers without my throat tightening so that no sound comes out. If you really wanna make a personal change, you can do it as long as you are prepared to put in the hard work that comes with it.

[chocoholictan]

I mean... of course it's possible for me to add more repertoire to my social skill, but after trying to be more extraverted for 20 years I'm still unable to enjoy being with many people. I CAN try to talk and mingle better at parties for example, but deep down I'm still not enjoying it. As other comments have said, the research seems to measure extraversion as social skills rather than measuring the enjoyment of doing social interaction as extraversion and introversion represents.

[fireriffs]

I'm trying to make mine more positive. Hopefully, one day I can have the bright and cheery outlook of a pessimist.

[tarnishedknight]

Q: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: One (but the lightbulb really has to want to change).

[Permafry]

I know the video wasn't meant to come off that way, but i feel like the video put too much of an emphasis on turning extroverted, implying that there aren't people who want to be introverted or prefer being introverted for the benefits that come with introversion and introspection;

[DoveAlexa]

Well it's a damn good thing I like being an introvert! I don't have to do any extra work to please all those who think I'm broken and shouldn't exist.

[nobbie]

I did that when I was young. I used to be highly social and outgoing, but also extremely self-centered and bossy. Some stuff happened that made me realise how that attitude was affecting others and I dunno, I really felt ashamed of it I suppose. So I set my goals to be more conscientious and empathetic, I wanted to be more thoughtful and kind of looked up to introverts.
Fast forward a few years and now I get stressed out being in crowds, feel worn down if I have to be socialising, but at the very least I make the very few people around me happy (x

[lucasm]

You can also temporarily change personality with MUSIC. Different genres can evoke different emotions and perspectives. It can help explore a different part of yourself.