Do core motives differ from broad personality trait dimensions in their changeability and susceptibility to life experiences?

Abstract

Personality changes across the lifespan, primarily driven by environmental factors. However, environmental influences on personality, such as those related to life events, have been unsystematic, inconsistent, and difficult to replicate. One explanation for the mixed body of evidence may be that some personality characteristics are more prone to environmental changes than others. In the present study, we analyzed self- and informant reports across three assessment waves in 3150 individuals (14–91 years, 62% female) to compare the stability and changeability of broad HEXACO trait dimensions (e.g., Emotionality and Openness) and core motives (e.g., Growth and Self-Protection) using latent variable and growth-curve modeling. We then compared both constructs in their susceptibility to 21 life-event categories using latent change modeling. We found marginal differences in the changeability of broad trait dimensions and core motives. While there were no consistent differences in event effects on change in both constructs, effects on the probability of experiencing events were significantly larger for core motives than for broad traits. The results provide no evidence for the hypotheses that core motives are more changeable and environmentally malleable than broad traits. In contrast, our results indicate selection effects rather than event effects and that motives primarily drive life experiences.

Plain Language Summary

Do Core Motivation-Specific Characteristics Differ from Broad Personality Trait Characteristics in their Changeability and Susceptibility to Life Experiences?: Personality characteristics changes across the lifespan, primarily driven by environmental factors. However, environmental influences on personality characteristics, such as those related to life events and changes in life circumstances, have been unsystematic, inconsistent, and difficult to replicate. One explanation for the inconcistency in the literature may be that some personality characteristics, such as those that primarily describe the individual as motivated agent, are more prone to environmental changes than other characteristics, such as those that primarily describe the individual as social actor. In the present study, we analyzed self- and informant reports on representative sets of these two different personality characteristics across three assessment waves in 3150 individuals (14–91 years, 62% female). We compared the stability and changeability of broad HEXACO trait dimensions (e.g., Honesty Humility, Emotionality, eXtraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness) and core motives (e.g., Growth, Self-Enhancement, Universal and Communal Self-Transcendence, Stimulation, and Self-Protection) using latent variable and growth-curve modeling. We then compared both constructs in their susceptibility to 21 life-event categories using latent change modeling. We found marginal differences in the changeability of the broad HEXACO trait dimensions and the six core motives. While there were no consistent differences in event effects on change in both HEXACO traits and core motives, effects on the probability of experiencing events were significantly larger for core motives than for HEXACO traits. The results provide no evidence for the hypotheses that core motives are more changeable and environmentally malleable than broad traits. In contrast, our results indicate selection effects rather than event effects and that core motives primarily drive life experiences.