Is Personality Fixed? Personality Changes as Much as "Variable" Economic Factors and More Strongly Predicts Changes to Life Satisfaction
Is Personality Fixed? Personality Changes as Much as "Variable" Economic Factors and More Strongly Predicts Changes to Life Satisfaction
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DOI：
10.1007/s11205-012-0006-z
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发表时间：
2013-03-01
影响因子：
3.1
通讯作者：
Powdthavee, Nattavudh
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Boyce, Christopher J.;Wood, Alex M.;Powdthavee, Nattavudh
人格是高主观幸福感的最强和最一致的横截面预测因子。预测性较低的经济因素，如更高的收入或更好的工作状况，往往是应用主观幸福感研究的重点，因为人们认为它们可以改变，而个性不能。因此，对人格变化以及这种变化如何带来更高的幸福感的研究有限。在对8625人的纵向分析中，我们在两个时间点检查了大五人格指标，以确定一个人的人格是否发生变化，以及这种人格变化在多大程度上可以预测生活满意度的变化。我们发现，性格的变化至少与经济因素一样多，与生活满意度的变化关系更密切。因此，我们的研究结果表明，个性可以改变，这种改变是重要和有意义的。我们的研究结果可能有助于为政策辩论提供信息，讨论如何最好地帮助个人和国家改善福祉。
Personality is the strongest and most consistent cross-sectional predictor of high subjective well-being. Less predictive economic factors, such as higher income or improved job status, are often the focus of applied subjective well-being research due to a perception that they can change whereas personality cannot. As such there has been limited investigation into personality change and how such changes might bring about higher well-being. In a longitudinal analysis of 8625 individuals we examine Big Five personality measures at two time points to determine whether an individual's personality changes and also the extent to which such changes in personality can predict changes in life satisfaction. We find that personality changes at least as much as economic factors and relates much more strongly to changes in life satisfaction. Our results therefore suggest that personality can change and that such change is important and meaningful. Our findings may help inform policy debate over how best to help individuals and nations improve their well-being.