How stable are personality traits?
Costa, McCrae and Arenberg (1980) conducted a longitudinal study of 460
males aged 17-85 over a 6 to 12 year period. They found correlations of
.70+ over time for extraversion and high correlations for neuroticism.
Studies generally show decline in E and N as people age. Helson
and Moane (1987) studied women from 27 to 43 in their longitudinal
study; Helson and Wink (1993) then assessed them at age 52
and found women become more dominant, independent, and self-confident
over time
Individual differences in stability/consistency
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