When People Want to Change, They Choose Personality Over Moral Character

Most people have certain traits or behaviors they’d like to change. Recent research has concluded that people often prioritize desired changes in personality traits over improvements in moral character.

?A profound exploration of this tendency was conducted by researchers Jessie Sun from the University of California, Davis, and Geoffrey Goodwin from the University of Pennsylvania, culminating in a study published in Psychological Science. Their findings illuminate a pervasive inclination among individuals to focus on amending aspects of their personality that are non-moral, rather than traits directly linked to morality, such as honesty, compassion, and fairness.

The study, conducted in 2016, involved a comprehensive survey filled by two groups totalling 800 participants. These individuals self-reported various facets of their personalities, drawing from the Big Five personality domains and a spectrum of moral traits. Interestingly, the data revealed a compelling pattern: participants exhibited a strong desire to alter traits associated with their emotional states, such as anxiety, depression, and anger, and showed a preference for increasing creativity, productivity, and relationships.

In contrast, there was a marked lack of emphasis on enhancing moral characteristics, a trend that was evident among the participants and consistent with the observations of designated informants - individuals who knew the participants well.

This phenomenon raises critical questions about human psychology in the context of self-improvement. The researchers speculate that this pattern could partly be attributed to intrinsic self-interest, highlighting that changes aligned with personal well-being are more appealing due to their immediate impact on one's quality of life. For instance, mitigating feelings of depression has a direct, tangible effect on daily living, whereas enhancing one's moral compass does not present immediate, recognizable benefits.

Moreover, the study offers an intriguing perspective on moral superiority. Previous research indicates a common tendency among individuals to perceive themselves as more honest and trustworthy than others, a belief that might sometimes be substantiated. However, Sun and Goodwin’s research findings suggest that, during self-improvement endeavors, individuals could potentially gain from introspecting more critically on their moral attributes rather than predominantly focusing on personality traits devoid of moral implications.

In conclusion, this research underscores a significant dichotomy in self-improvement motivations, where traits linked with personal efficacy and emotional regulation supersede the enhancement of moral character. The implications of these findings are especially relevant in today's society, where consumerism and individualism are rampant, potentially overshadowing the foundational values of moral and ethical development.

You should read more on the subject of character and virtues in my recent book, Virtuous Leadership: The Character Secrets of Great Leaders.

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