I wonder whether this is due to a learning effect, where slowly people learn not to react too much, or whether it is due to neural changes (something like declining receptor numbers in the amygdala)?
There is also a bit of change in personality over time. Sanjay Srivastava, Oliver P. John, Samuel D. Gosling, Jeff Potter, Development of Personality in Early and Middle Adulthood: Set Like Plaster or Persistent Change?, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 84, No. 5. http://www.apa.org/journals...shows that there is quite a bit of drift of personality over time: conscientousness and agreeableness increases (at least up to 55+, where maybe some grumpiness starts to set in), while female neuroticism decreases (eventually reaching the male mean).
Thanks a lot for the post. Looking forward to comments.
This explains a lot.
I'd definitely bet on it being neural.
I wonder whether this is due to a learning effect, where slowly people learn not to react too much, or whether it is due to neural changes (something like declining receptor numbers in the amygdala)?
There is also a bit of change in personality over time. Sanjay Srivastava, Oliver P. John, Samuel D. Gosling, Jeff Potter, Development of Personality in Early and Middle Adulthood: Set Like Plaster or Persistent Change?, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 84, No. 5. http://www.apa.org/journals...shows that there is quite a bit of drift of personality over time: conscientousness and agreeableness increases (at least up to 55+, where maybe some grumpiness starts to set in), while female neuroticism decreases (eventually reaching the male mean).