The French cultural channel ARTE has released a documentary titled "Pouvons‑nous changer ?" exploring whether humans can consciously alter their personalities [1].
This investigation addresses a fundamental scientific debate regarding human nature. Determining if personality is fixed at birth or capable of being reshaped informs how psychologists approach mental health, behavioral therapy, and personal development.
Psychologist Franz Neyer appears in the film to challenge the notion that individual traits are immutable [1]. Neyer said that personality is not carved in marble, suggesting that individuals possess the capacity for deliberate change [1].
The documentary examines the tension between genetic predispositions and the ability to consciously modify one's character. By analyzing the mechanisms of change, the program seeks to provide a scientific basis for the belief that people can evolve their core traits over time [1].
ARTE has made the production available for viewing through May 30, 2029 [1]. The film serves as part of a broader effort to answer complex existential and scientific questions through the lens of modern psychology [1].
“personality is not carved in marble”
The shift toward viewing personality as malleable rather than static suggests a move away from biological determinism in psychology. If core traits can be consciously modified, it validates the efficacy of long-term behavioral interventions and suggests that adult personality development is a continuous process rather than a finished product of early childhood.
