¶ … dominant trait of the Big Five made a difference with respect to the personality of people changing in response to stressful life events (Sutin, et al., 2010). The mechanism for personality change is apparently the way that an individual views a stressful life event (Sutin, et al., 2010). A study of stressful events and personality development in middle age found that people could consider the event a turning point or a lesson learned depending on their dominant traits (Sutin, et al., 2010). People high in Neuroticism perceived the stressful event negatively and as a turning point rather than a lesson learned (Sutin, et al., 2010). And people high in Extraversion and Conscientiousness viewed the stressful event as a lesson learned (Sutin, et al., 2010). It is important to note that the characteristics of the stressful events were not related to trait change (Sutin, et al., 2010). Rather, personality trait change in middle age was found to be primarily associated with the way individuals perceive and understand the stressful life event, while the occurrence of stressful life events did not show a relation to changes in personality trait (Sutin, et al., 2010).
2. What your thoughts are about it and how it has changed your thinking:
The research on personality trait change really influenced my thinking about the potential impact of positive thinking (Arnton, et al., 2008; van Lieshout, 2000). The frame of reference that a person uses to interpret life events and matters that are not within their locus of control can apparently have a significant effect on phenomena that are important to people, such as their health, their ability to cope with stress, or the stability of their personality traits (Bood, et al., 2004; van Lieshout, 2000).
3. How it might apply to or change your thinking regarding some aspect of your current or future professional work in psychology:
It seems to me that this line of thinking is has a very positive orientation and that it hold the promise of personality change occurring for therapeutic reasons (Vanderwater & Stewart, 2006; Whitbourne, 1986). From this, I believe that I would come to expect more from my patients than some may wish to give (Costa, et al., 1998; Vanderwater & Stewart, 2006; Whitbourne, 1986). The very prospect that someone can move closer to health and well-being through the power of their thoughts is quite exciting (Vanderwater & Stewart, 2006; Whitbourne, 1986). Indeed, it grounds the process of psychotherapy in the research on positive thinking and personality change theory (Magnavita, 2005; Vanderwater & Stewart, 2006; Whitbourne, 1986). The role of the client is heightened by this perspective, too, in that clients can take on a more active role in their therapy than they might otherwise have done (Vanderwater & Stewart, 2006; Whitbourne, 1986).
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