Differences Between Boys and Girls: How Early Adolescents' Personality Changes

There are a lot of differences between boys and girls. However, a bigger question from parents usually is how early adolescents' personality changes over time between boys and girls.

A recent study shows how early adolescents' personality changes over time. The study observed five interesting personality traits, which include aspects like:

• neuroticism,
• openness to experience,
• extraversion
• conscientiousness, and
• agreeableness.

In this study, the researchers also found that there are personality differences between boys and girls. Specifically, these differences were observed in four of the five major personality traits mentioned above.

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The study on how early adolescents' personality changes over time

A group of psychologists from Northwestern University conducted the study.

They did a multi-wave research project involving mothers of 440 children. The kids of these mothers are ages nine to ten.

The mothers were the ones who completed the personality test on behalf of their children. 

The study went on for four consecutive years, and each year, the moms had to take the personality test for their children.

The research was led by Cassandra Brandes. Their study recently got published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Testing the hypotheses

In exploring how early adolescents' personality changes over time, the research looked into two hypotheses.

The first one is the maturity principle. This hypothesis says that as individuals grow to become adults, they also become more mature, self-regulated, and sociable.

The other hypothesis tested was called the disruption hypothesis. This principle asserts that going to adulthood from childhood is not a straight line and that there will be antisocial behavior and dysregulation.

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The result of the study

After testing the two hypotheses, the researchers were able to find out that there was stability in the five personality traits which were observed.

However, a substantial change was observed in the personality "agreeableness." Children in the study scored significantly higher when they were 13 years old than when they were nine years old.

Also, in terms of openness to experience, a decrease in score was observed over the years.

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The difference between girls and boys

In the study, researchers were able to find that between girls and boys, the boys have more significant decreases in neuroticism. That includes shyness and being sociable. Also, the boys exhibited greater increases in being considerate.

On the other hand, girls show greater increases in extraversion and achievement orientation.

Compared to adult personality research

The observations in the study are believed to be similar to studies that observed adults.

Research showed that people become more optimistic when they are in their fifties than when they were in their twenties.

The same thing is observed in terms of agreeableness and conscientiousness in adults.

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