Can people truly change, or do they just learn to hide certain traits?

Question

Чи реальна особиста трансформація, чи ми просто починаємо краще маскувати свої недоліки? Чи справді люди еволюціонують з часом, чи зміни є лише виставою, яку ми виставляємо для суспільства? Що робить одних людей здатними до глибоких змін, тоді як інші, здається, застрягли в старих шаблонах?

Answer 1

Can people change? Well, I once swore I’d never eat pineapple on pizza, and now I order it proudly. If that’s not proof of deep personal growth, I don’t know what is.

Comments

I once judged people for dipping fries in milkshakes. Now I do it myself. We are all capable of profound growth.

Answer 2

People can absolutely change, but it’s hard work. Real change requires self-awareness, effort, and sometimes even external help like therapy. The key factor is whether someone truly wants to change or is just adapting to social expectations. Some changes are permanent, while others fade when external pressure is gone.

Answer 3

Psychological research shows that personality traits are relatively stable over time, but behavior and habits can be changed with conscious effort. Neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire itself—proves that people can shift their thinking patterns and responses.

However, change isn’t easy. Most people don’t fundamentally alter who they are, but they can refine how they react, communicate, and behave. For instance, someone with a short temper might learn emotional regulation techniques, but their tendency toward irritation may still exist. The real question is: Are they changing, or just managing themselves better? The answer is… both.

Answer 4

People don’t just "hide" their traits—they adapt. Social expectations, life experiences, and personal decisions shape how we behave. Some people genuinely evolve after major life events, like becoming a parent, facing a crisis, or gaining new perspectives through education or travel. That said, deep change is rare without intention. If someone consistently displays a certain behavior but temporarily stops due to circumstances, they haven’t changed—they’re just suppressing it. True transformation happens when values shift, not just actions.

Answer 5

People can change. For example, I used to be broke. Now I’m still broke, but I handle it with more maturity. Progress. 

Comments

babel, you just described adulthood in one sentence. 10/10, no notes.