Olga Khazan

So like you mentioned that people become kind of mentally healthier in old age. Neuroticism does go down naturally across your life. So if you feel like you're very anxious and depressed, usually in older age, people become less so. So that sort of just naturally happens. You don't have to do anything. You don't have to like take any Lexapro. That naturally happens for most people.

So like you mentioned that people become kind of mentally healthier in old age. Neuroticism does go down naturally across your life. So if you feel like you're very anxious and depressed, usually in older age, people become less so. So that sort of just naturally happens. You don't have to do anything. You don't have to like take any Lexapro. That naturally happens for most people.

The other element of this is that if you actually try to change, it can happen even faster. So there's been studies that show that people who get therapy, for example, become less neurotic. And in a short period of time, they become a lot less neurotic than you would expect them to having just like naturally, you know, decline in neuroticism.

The other element of this is that if you actually try to change, it can happen even faster. So there's been studies that show that people who get therapy, for example, become less neurotic. And in a short period of time, they become a lot less neurotic than you would expect them to having just like naturally, you know, decline in neuroticism.

The other element of this is that if you actually try to change, it can happen even faster. So there's been studies that show that people who get therapy, for example, become less neurotic. And in a short period of time, they become a lot less neurotic than you would expect them to having just like naturally, you know, decline in neuroticism.

And the same with some of the studies that I cover in my book. Researchers who have given people these like challenges, you know, people will say, I'd really like to become more extroverted. I'd like to make more friends. And they're like, okay, every day for – or whatever, every week for a month, reach out to someone new and have coffee with them or have –

And the same with some of the studies that I cover in my book. Researchers who have given people these like challenges, you know, people will say, I'd really like to become more extroverted. I'd like to make more friends. And they're like, okay, every day for – or whatever, every week for a month, reach out to someone new and have coffee with them or have –

And the same with some of the studies that I cover in my book. Researchers who have given people these like challenges, you know, people will say, I'd really like to become more extroverted. I'd like to make more friends. And they're like, okay, every day for – or whatever, every week for a month, reach out to someone new and have coffee with them or have –

you know, lunch with them or whatever, and they do maybe like five to ten challenges like that over a period of time, they actually find that they do grow in extroversion based on personality tests that they take at the beginning and the end. So not only do you naturally change, you can also change through effort.

you know, lunch with them or whatever, and they do maybe like five to ten challenges like that over a period of time, they actually find that they do grow in extroversion based on personality tests that they take at the beginning and the end. So not only do you naturally change, you can also change through effort.

you know, lunch with them or whatever, and they do maybe like five to ten challenges like that over a period of time, they actually find that they do grow in extroversion based on personality tests that they take at the beginning and the end. So not only do you naturally change, you can also change through effort.

Yeah. So it's both. So genetics is responsible for about 40 to 60% of our personality. And even then it's not like direct. Like if you think about either of your parents, you're probably not exactly like either of them, right? You're probably like you have like elements of them, but you're not like they're twin.

Yeah. So it's both. So genetics is responsible for about 40 to 60% of our personality. And even then it's not like direct. Like if you think about either of your parents, you're probably not exactly like either of them, right? You're probably like you have like elements of them, but you're not like they're twin.

Yeah. So it's both. So genetics is responsible for about 40 to 60% of our personality. And even then it's not like direct. Like if you think about either of your parents, you're probably not exactly like either of them, right? You're probably like you have like elements of them, but you're not like they're twin.

Like you kind of, most people are, I mean, usually people are relieved to hear this, like not exactly like either parent, right? So you get a little bit, like you get some ingredients. So I have like a natural proclivity toward anxiety because both my parents are very anxious, right?

Like you kind of, most people are, I mean, usually people are relieved to hear this, like not exactly like either parent, right? So you get a little bit, like you get some ingredients. So I have like a natural proclivity toward anxiety because both my parents are very anxious, right?

Like you kind of, most people are, I mean, usually people are relieved to hear this, like not exactly like either parent, right? So you get a little bit, like you get some ingredients. So I have like a natural proclivity toward anxiety because both my parents are very anxious, right?

But at the same time, there's other, there's like this, you know, 40 to 60 other percent of personality that we don't really know where specifically it comes from. It's not necessarily like the way your parents raised you. It's like, it's like kind of that, but it's also like your friends. It's like, did you go to college? What kind of job do you have?

But at the same time, there's other, there's like this, you know, 40 to 60 other percent of personality that we don't really know where specifically it comes from. It's not necessarily like the way your parents raised you. It's like, it's like kind of that, but it's also like your friends. It's like, did you go to college? What kind of job do you have?

But at the same time, there's other, there's like this, you know, 40 to 60 other percent of personality that we don't really know where specifically it comes from. It's not necessarily like the way your parents raised you. It's like, it's like kind of that, but it's also like your friends. It's like, did you go to college? What kind of job do you have?