Do you think people can change?

[1newname]

As in personality. Say from negative and pessimistic to happy and optimistic? Or upright and controlling to relaxed? Or are we stuck with who we are so there's no point in trying??

Not in my experience, or not much. But personally I went through a long phase of being really stressed, really quick to anger. But it wasn't my baseline personality, and I came through it, it was mental illness. I think as people get older they calm down, too. But they still have the same basic strengths and flaws

We are the average of the people and environment that we are surrounded by.

Change the environment and the people you associate with and, over time, you will change, too. The hard bit is breaking out of those environments and away from the people you are used to associating with. Therapy to unpick long-held belief patterns.

So yes, change is possible, but rare.

I think what can change is how you manage the impact of your personality on other people.

I see plenty of people who’ve changed in the other direction as we’ve gotten older, myself included so it stands to reason that people can get happier too xxxx

Yes, definitely. Probably not from one extreme to the other, but with time and consistent effort it's absolutely possible to make long-lasting changes to your beliefs and thinking styles.

It does need a good level of self understanding and self awareness but it's totally possible. I've changed a lot myself and I've seen other people successfully change their mindset too.

It much but yes I think people do change a bit - becoming more chilled with age for example, or working on the way they think about stuff or deal with emotions.
But fundamental personality no

I don't think people are stuck as they are made. If you want to change amd put rhe effort in, it is possible. I think most people don't change as they don't really want to. I also think that we are often products of our environment and that power corrupts. Che Guavara seemed to start off as a decent enough guy and might have turned out very different if he had stayed at home.

Whilst I do think people don’t really change very much, I agree with PP that environment makes a big difference.
My dM was confrontational, aggressive, shouty, sweary and was always right. Hit other adults who were weaker (or just nicer) than her and battered us kids.
As a young adult I was mouthy, sweary and up for an argument with anyone really. Nice as a young child though.
Within months of leaving home I was, and believe I still am, a much nicer person. Tolerant of other people’s actions and beliefs and way more relaxed.
I think my present way of being is my natural me and the gobby one was a way of surviving and learnt behaviour.

I think personality traits are hard to change entirely - some are literally our DNA/hardwired in.

However, I do believe that a person can change, but it is more of a tweak or fine tuning, rather than moving from a dye in the wool pessimist to outrageous optimist.

It really depends on the individual's motivation to change and how long they are willing to persistent with the new habits/behaviour, how they deal with setbacks etc.

What do you mean by change? All people change somewhat with age and life circumstances. Personality change? I think probably very little if at all and this requires huge personal desire, self-insight and hard work.
Our environment and the people with whom we surround ourselves have a huge influence on us . We cannot change others, but can have a positive influence thrugh our own behaviour.