Personality Trait Changes in Adolescence: A Literature Review

This review summarizes the outcomes of empirical studies on the changes in the average level of the Big Five personality traits over adolescence. Most data indicate that openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness and extraversion increase in adolescence, while neuroticism decreases. Normative changes in the level of per- sonality traits in this period reflect the development of psychological maturity and adaptation in adolescents and are interlocked with the solution of main developmental tasks of that age. In some cases, though, negative patterns may arise (usually in early and middle adolescence), reflecting the specific difficulties of the adoles- cent years. Normative changes in personality traits are grounded in biological maturation, socialization and contextual factors. Adolescence is a sensitive period for the formation of both adaptive and non-adaptive devel- opmental patterns.

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