Current Events > Do you think people can change?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I feel like people obviously go through changes in their views and hobbies and whatnot.

But I feel people who are short temperered will always have a short fuse. Or narcissists will always be self-serving.

I feel that the core personality traits you have when young never really go away.

People who are typically aggressive or disagreeable are probably going to remain that way. Same for the passive and agreeable.
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People can change how they act, but people don't change.
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in some ways, yeah. Trying to force yourself to be someone you're not for friends or a social group doesn't usually work though.
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I think Shawn Michaels is a good example that people can change. Everybody in the wrestling industry is in agreement that he was the biggest douche asshole they'd ever met. Even when he got into a barfight his own "friends" wouldn't go see him at the hospital. The only person who went to go see him was the chick he was having an affair with and she even dragged her husband along with her. Now he's a born again Christian.
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Some people might actively try really hard to, like (for example) trying to keep their temper under control and not lash out at people. If you're the kind of person that gets pissed off at every little thing you'll probably always be that way though. It pretty much takes a miracle or for someone to hit absolute rock bottom before they'll make a more concerted effort.
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DavidWong posted...

People can change how they act, but people don't change.

Is there truly a difference? If its not an act?

SauI_Goodman posted...

I think Shawn Michaels is a good example that people can change. Everybody in the wrestling industry is in agreement that he was the biggest douche asshole they'd ever met. Even when he got into a barfight his own "friends" wouldn't go see him at the hospital. The only person who went to go see him was the chick he was having an affair with and she even dragged her husband along with her. Now he's a born again Christian.

Im unfamiliar. Though Im curious how being a born again Christian has changed him.
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I feel like people can change, but it's much harder to do so than it sounds. So more often than not, I've seen someone who claims to have "changed" really just be the same as ever.

It's almost like an inertia of one's psychology/personality. The more set-in certain aspects of your being are, they harder they become to change. Even moreso if you don't have the willpower to do so.
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I think at some point you have to accept certain things about yourself and likewise about other people. Trying to change yourself too much can just lead to demoralization and defeat. Also trying to change others doesn't work too well either.
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cuttin_in_farm posted...

Is there truly a difference? If its not an act?

I would be inclined to believe so, yes. But I judge people for their actions, not their feelings.
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Sure. I think the circumstances around a person can change them even if they don't want to. Even if we exclude those people who actively try to make a change you've still got people who gradually get influenced by the people around them, their environment and the current circumstances of their life.

It could be something ordinary like settling down and raising a family. It could be something like becoming famous or a big promotion. It could be something devasting like grief or PTSD.

There is a core to people that usually remains the same though.
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I think so, yeah. 9/10 times though, they won't. Just because it's possible doesn't mean anyone will bother.

I've seen people change before though so I know it's at least possible.
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