Exploring individual differences in volitional personality state and trait change: The role of motivation and engagement during a 12-week intervention.
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| Title: | Exploring individual differences in volitional personality state and trait change: The role of motivation and engagement during a 12-week intervention. |
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| Authors: | Olaru, Gabriel (AUTHOR), Stieger, Mirjam (AUTHOR), Flückiger, Christoph (AUTHOR), Roberts, Brent W. (AUTHOR), Allemand, Mathias (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | European Journal of Personality. May/Jun2026, Vol. 40 Issue 3, p675-693. 19p. |
| Subjects: | Personality change, Motivation (Psychology), Maturation (Psychology), Self-help techniques, Mental training, Job involvement |
| Abstract: | Recent studies suggest that personality traits can change through interventions, but little is known about what drives individual differences in intervention gains. Based on personality development and intervention frameworks, we examined whether achieved personality state changes explain differences in trait change and whether these could be explained by participants' motivation and intervention engagement. The study was based on a 12-week personality intervention with a total of 956 participants, daily and weekly state measures, and trait self- and observer-reports. Participants who showed stronger state deviations from the initial trait level changed more in their traits in the corresponding direction. Both state and trait changes were stronger if participants were more committed to their change goal, completed more implementation intentions, and enjoyed their implementations more (i.e., reinforcement). In contrast, the strength of the desire to change, expected attainability, and beliefs in the changeability of personality had no consistent effects—but individual differences were limited as most participants scored highly on these motivational aspects. The control group exhibited no mean-level changes or effects of any of these covariates. Taken together, these findings support key components of volitional change theories and can help guide future personalized intervention efforts. Plain language summary: This study explored whether people can intentionally change aspects of their personality and what makes some people more successful at doing so than others. Nine-hundred and fifty-six people took part in a 12-week smartphone guided training where they chose a personality trait they wanted to change, such as becoming more outgoing or more emotionally stable. Throughout the training, they practiced activities aimed at self-reflection and building new habits and completed daily and weekly questionnaires on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We wanted to examine whether changes in one's behaviors or thought patterns—in other words leaving one's "comfort zone"—would help people achieve their change goals. We also studied which motivational factors were important for the training to work. We found that people who acted differently than usual (e.g., more outgoing than they typically are) on a regular basis also reported lasting changes in their corresponding personality trait (e.g., Extraversion). Regarding the motivational factors, we found that people who were more committed to changing, enjoyed the activities more, and completed more activities also reported the strongest changes. Simply wanting to change or believing change was possible wasn't enough on its own—commitment and actual engagement mattered more. These insights could help design more personalized and effective programs to support personal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Recent studies suggest that personality traits can change through interventions, but little is known about what drives individual differences in intervention gains. Based on personality development and intervention frameworks, we examined whether achieved personality state changes explain differences in trait change and whether these could be explained by participants' motivation and intervention engagement. The study was based on a 12-week personality intervention with a total of 956 participants, daily and weekly state measures, and trait self- and observer-reports. Participants who showed stronger state deviations from the initial trait level changed more in their traits in the corresponding direction. Both state and trait changes were stronger if participants were more committed to their change goal, completed more implementation intentions, and enjoyed their implementations more (i.e., reinforcement). In contrast, the strength of the desire to change, expected attainability, and beliefs in the changeability of personality had no consistent effects—but individual differences were limited as most participants scored highly on these motivational aspects. The control group exhibited no mean-level changes or effects of any of these covariates. Taken together, these findings support key components of volitional change theories and can help guide future personalized intervention efforts. Plain language summary: This study explored whether people can intentionally change aspects of their personality and what makes some people more successful at doing so than others. Nine-hundred and fifty-six people took part in a 12-week smartphone guided training where they chose a personality trait they wanted to change, such as becoming more outgoing or more emotionally stable. Throughout the training, they practiced activities aimed at self-reflection and building new habits and completed daily and weekly questionnaires on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We wanted to examine whether changes in one's behaviors or thought patterns—in other words leaving one's "comfort zone"—would help people achieve their change goals. We also studied which motivational factors were important for the training to work. We found that people who acted differently than usual (e.g., more outgoing than they typically are) on a regular basis also reported lasting changes in their corresponding personality trait (e.g., Extraversion). Regarding the motivational factors, we found that people who were more committed to changing, enjoyed the activities more, and completed more activities also reported the strongest changes. Simply wanting to change or believing change was possible wasn't enough on its own—commitment and actual engagement mattered more. These insights could help design more personalized and effective programs to support personal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 08902070 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/08902070251374365 |
