Do you think you improve with age? If so, do other people agree? To find out, answer the following questions comparing your 14-year-old self with how you were, or are, or imagine you will be at 29.
Answer yes or no. Would you say that between the ages of 14 and 29 you became more…
a) Extroverted and outgoing?
b) Conscientious and hardworking?
c) Open to trying new experiences?
d) Emotionally stable?
e) A nicer, kinder person?
If you answered “Yes” to questions a, b and c, then you’re probably right, and your friends and family are likely to agree.
A new longitudinal study of more than 10,000 people from the University of Leipzig found that extraversion, conscientiousness and openness increased from 14 to 29, whether looking at self-report or other people’s ratings.
The results for d, emotional stability, are more revealing. Most people think that they get more stable as they get older, but it turns out their friends and family don’t share their optimism. Finally, when it comes to e, general agreeableness, a leopard really doesn’t change its spots. Whether you ask people about themselves or those who know them best, someone who is disagreeable at 14 is usually still unlikable and disagreeable at 29.
How does your personality change as you age? A fully referenced version of this article is available at benambridge.com. Order Psy-Q by Ben Ambridge (Profile Books, £8.99) for £6.99 at bookshop.theguardian.com
