What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine how an 18-week basic military training program influences changes in Big Five personality traits and self-esteem.

August 19, 2026European Journal of PersonalityOpen Access

Personality Change Through Military Training in Switzerland

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Authors

EHE HeitzUniversity of Zurich HAHubert AnnenETH Zurich WBWiebke BleidornUniversity of Zurich

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Implication

Prospective controlled study reveals basic military training increases extraversion, conscientiousness, and self-esteem in young recruits, indicating adult personality plasticity.

Key Points

To determine how an 18-week basic military training program influences changes in Big Five personality traits and self-esteem.
Conducted a 54-week prospective weighted control group study across four assessment waves (T1–T4) with N=1,191 soldiers and N=441 civilian controls at baseline (N total = 1,632–288 across waves).
Estimated latent change models to evaluate baseline selection effects, socialization effects during (T1–T2) and after (T2–T4) training, and moderation by social investment and trait change goals.
Soldiers demonstrated higher baseline conscientiousness and lower open-mindedness than civilian controls at the start of training.
Basic military training (T1–T2) produced significantly greater mean-level increases in extraversion, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and self-esteem among soldiers compared to civilians, with no group differences emerging post-training (T2–T4).
Social investment and personal goals to change traits did not significantly moderate the observed personality and self-esteem trajectories.

Cite This Study

Heitz et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8563eb03308d306e2d7530 https://doi.org/10.1177/08902070261477527

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Implication

Prospective controlled study reveals basic military training increases extraversion, conscientiousness, and self-esteem in young recruits, indicating adult personality plasticity.

Personality Change Through Military Training in Switzerland

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Personality Change Through Military Training in Switzerland

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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