Science needs rebranding.

I'm Angela Duckworth. I'm Mike Mon and you're listening to no stupid questions.

Today on the show, how fixed is personality.

I take comfort in knowing that I am just like everyone else in deluding myself. Angela. Angela, today we have a fascinating question about how fixed personality is.

Mike, you and I have been talking about personality so much lately.

I know mostly because I think I need a better one.

No, but you know what? I think a lot of us feel that way.

Okay, well let me read you this question from Joshua Curtis. Hi Mike and Angela, I often wonder how

fixed personality is. I feel that while my personality has definite patterns, how

pronounce those patterns are can vary given the environment that I'm in.

This seems to be true both in the short term, for example I have different personality at work than at home,

but also true in the longer term. My personality is definitely different now that I'm in my

late 30s compared to when I was in college. This makes me wonder if personality tests should not be used

to tell us about fixed traits that we have but rather as

tools for working to become closer to the people we would like to be. Are there

things we can do to intentionally change our personalities.

Thanks Joshua Curtis.

Can I just thank Joshua because I feel like we live in a particular cultural moment

where self-improvement is a universal hobby.

And it is a timeless question.

I mean, you know, philosophers and theologians of various types have been pondering character and how malleable it is since forever.

So Joshua, great question.

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