Changing personality traits with the help of a digital personality change intervention
The effects of a 3-mo digital personality change intervention using a randomized controlled trial and the smartphone application PEACH are examined to provide the strongest evidence to date that normal personality traits can be changed through intervention in nonclinical samples.
Abstract
<jats:title>Significance</jats:title> <jats:p> Personality traits have consequences and are malleable throughout the lifespan. However, it is unclear if and how personality traits can be changed in desired directions. A 3-mo digital personality change intervention was deployed, and a large-scale randomized controlled trial ( <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 1,523) was conducted to examine the effects of intended personality change in a nonclinical sample. The intervention group showed greater changes than the control group, and changes aligned with intended goals for change. Observers also perceived personality changes, but reported changes were less pronounced. Moreover, self- and observer-reported changes persisted until 3 mo after the end of the intervention. These findings provide the strongest evidence to date that normal personality traits can be changed through intervention in nonclinical samples. </jats:p>