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Discussing whether personality is 'set in stone' or if we can develop new traits over time.
If you are 'the shy kid' or 'the loud one' today, are you stuck with that label forever, or can you actually choose to become someone different by the time you graduate?
Quick Check
If a student says, 'I'm just not a brave person, and I never will be,' which mindset are they demonstrating?
Answer
They are demonstrating a fixed mindset because they believe their trait is unchangeable.
You don't wake up with a new personality overnight. Instead, personality changes through incremental shifts. If you want to become more conscientious (organized and hardworking), you don't start by cleaning your entire life. You start with one 'micro-habit.' Research shows that when we consistently 'act the part' of the trait we want, our internal self-image eventually catches up. This is known as the Bottom-Up approach to change: your small actions eventually reshape your overall identity.
Let's say Sarah wants to be more 'outgoing.' She uses a 3-step scaffold: 1. Week 1: Make eye contact and smile at one person in the hallway each day. 2. Week 2: Ask one person a question about their weekend. 3. Week 3: Raise her hand once in her favorite class. By breaking a big trait into small actions, the 'difficulty' of being outgoing decreases over time.
Quick Check
What is the 'Bottom-Up' approach to personality change?
Answer
It is the idea that small, consistent actions eventually change your overall personality and identity.
Have you ever noticed that people seem different after a summer break or after moving to a new city? Psychologists call these Life Transitions. When your environment changes, the 'social pressure' to act like your old self disappears. This creates a window of opportunity to adopt new traits. For example, moving from 7th grade to 8th grade provides a 'reset button.' During these times, the effort required to change a trait () is lower because you aren't fighting against people's old expectations of you.
Imagine Marcus is known as 'the joker' who never takes things seriously. He moves to a new town. 1. The Opportunity: No one at the new school expects him to be the joker. 2. The Choice: Marcus decides he wants to be seen as 'reliable.' 3. The Action: He joins the robotics club and volunteers to manage the equipment. 4. The Result: Because his new peers treat him as reliable, he begins to see himself that way, and his personality shifts.
To change a complex trait like 'Resilience,' one must combine mindset and action. 1. Identify: Define the trait (e.g., 'Handling failure better'). 2. Monitor: For 30 days, track every time you feel like giving up using a simple tally: where is a successful recovery from failure. 3. Reflect: At the end of the month, look at the data to see if your 'recovery rate' improved.
Which concept describes the brain's ability to change and form new connections?
Why are life transitions like moving to a new school helpful for changing personality?
True or False: To change a personality trait, you must make a massive, sudden change in your behavior all at once.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to remember the term for the brain's ability to change (starts with 'Neuro-') and think of one trait you'd like to 'water' in your personality garden.
Practice Activity
Pick one 'micro-action' for a trait you want. If you want to be more 'grateful,' write down one thing you're thankful for before bed tonight. Do this for three days and see if your mood shifts.