|
Brent Roberts
answers a
few questions about this month's fast breaking paper in
the field of Psychiatry/Psychology.
From
•>>April 2007
Field:
Psychiatry/Psychology
Article Title: Patterns of mean-level change in personality
traits across the life course: A meta-analysis of longitudinal
studies
Authors:
Roberts, BW;Walton, KE;Viechtbauer, W
Journal: PSYCHOL BULL
Volume: 132
Issue: 1
Page: 1-25
Year: JAN 2006
* Univ Illinois, Dept Psychol, 603 E Daniel St, Urbana, IL 61820
USA.
* Univ Illinois, Dept Psychol, Urbana, IL 61820 USA.
* Univ Maastricht, Dept Psychol, Maastricht, Netherlands.
|
 Why
do you think your paper is highly cited?
|
“The
paper synthesizes close to 100 longitudinal
studies of personality development.” |
|
Because it was controversial enough to warrant comments
from some of my colleagues and a rejoinder by myself. We
also had a special issue of the European Journal of
Personality on the same topic later in 2006.
Does
it describe a new discovery, methodology, or synthesis of
knowledge?
The paper synthesizes close to 100 longitudinal studies
of personality development. It establishes the fact that
personality traits continue to develop well into adulthood
and even show signs of change in old age. This refutes
existing theories and implicit models of human nature that
propose that personality traits stop changing in adulthood.
Could
you summarize the significance of your paper in layman’s terms?
Most people become more confident, warm, responsible, and
emotionally stable as they age, especially in young
adulthood (ages 20 to 40).
How did you become involved in this research, and were any
problems encountered along the way?
It has been the focus of my research from the beginning
of my career.
Are
there any social or political implications for your research?
In terms of social implications, middle-aged people will
be the most mature and the best equipped to handle
interpersonal situations, such as leadership positions. In
terms of political implications, some of the changes in
personality traits may be the source for the fact that
people become increasingly conservative with age.
Brent W. Roberts
Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, IL, USA
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ESI Special Topics,
April 2007
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/fbp/2007/april07-BrentRoberts.html
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