Can You Really Change Your Personality Type?
We all have those moments when we think, “I wish I had a different personality.” Maybe you want to be more outgoing, more in tune with your senses, more organized, or more resilient to criticism. It’s a common feeling! After all, every personality type has its strengths and weaknesses, and there’s no such thing as an ideal type — just like there are no perfect people. One of the most frequent questions people interested in personal development ask is, “Can I change my personality type?”
The Nature of Personality Types
The answer isn’t straightforward. According to most personality theories, our basic personality type is inborn and doesn’t change. However, that doesn’t mean we’re stuck with all our traits exactly as they are. People can develop traits and habits that are different from or even contradict their natural tendencies. How does that happen? Let’s explore.
Navigating Change
Imagine the lights in your home suddenly go out, leaving you in complete darkness. You might manage to find your way to the door using touch, hearing, or smell — anything but vision, your preferred sense. But as soon as the lights come back on, you’ll switch back to using vision because it makes navigating much easier.
Your personality works in a similar way. The environment you’re in shapes your personality, sometimes forcing you to develop traits and habits that might feel foreign to your natural type. For instance, if you’re naturally casual and spontaneous (a Prospecting type), but your job requires a highly structured schedule and your manager is obsessive about timelines, your preferences might shift to adapt. However, once you leave that job, you’re likely to revert to being more spontaneous.
Sociability vs. Extraversion
It’s important to clarify a common misconception: sociability is often confused with extraversion, just as shyness is confused with introversion. While extraverted individuals naturally find it easier to talk to others and gain energy from social interactions, there are many shy or solitary people among them. Conversely, introverted types lose energy when they interact with others, but many introverts are quite eloquent and socially adept.
In fact, certain introverted types, such as Advocates or Mediators, can be more sociable than many extraverts. In Western societies, extraverts outnumber introverts, leading to the belief that everyone should strive to be outgoing, confident, and have a large circle of friends. This is a misguided notion, as every personality type is unique with its own strengths. This societal pressure often fuels the “Can I change my personality type?” question.
Embracing Change and Growth
To sum it up, your core personality type doesn’t change, but you can absolutely work on the aspects of your personality that you’re unhappy with. By doing so, you’ll strengthen your less dominant traits and become a more well-rounded individual, even though your primary traits will still be the same. Such changes can be triggered by your environment or your own willpower. It’s all about finding balance and embracing personal growth.
So, while you may not be able to change your fundamental personality type, you have the power to adapt and grow in ways that make you feel more fulfilled and capable. Embrace your unique self and strive to be the best version of you!
