In 1890, William James Argued That "By Age 30, the Character

question 151

Multiple Choice

In 1890, William James argued that "by age 30, the character [personality] has set like plaster and will never soften again." Has psychological research supported his assertion?

• A)Yes, but his conclusion applies only within Western cultures.
• B)Generally yes, but he underestimated the age at which change is reduced.
• C)No, recent evidence indicates that dramatic changes occur at all ages.
• D)No, because it all depends on whether the individual stays in the same environment.

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Definitions:

High-context Culture

A communication style where much of the message is conveyed through implicit elements such as body language, tone of voice, and context, rather than explicit words.

Edward Hall

An anthropologist known for his pioneering work in the study of proxemics and cross-cultural communication.

Anthropologist

A social scientist specializing in the study of human societies, cultures, and their development.

High-context Culture

A culture in which communication relies heavily on the underlying context and nonverbal cues rather than explicitly stated words.