Personality Traits Change with Age

Conscientiousness (carrying out tasks dutifully and meticulously) improves as people grow older. Agreeableness (warmth, generosity and helpfulness) improves most during the 30s and 40s (and remains at that level). Neuroticism (worry and a sense of instability) and extroversion (the need for social support) decreases with age for women but not for men. Openness to new experiences declines as people get older but only slightly.