The Inner Dialogue: Do People Truly Have The Ability To Change?

Today, let's discuss the timeless debate on whether people can change. Some believe people cannot change, which is sad because that would be like saying that as one grows, they are incapable of accepting new ideas, thoughts and challenges.

Change - Imagine the Possibilities

The notion that people are incapable of change is quite restrictive. If change were truly impossible, then nothing would hold significance. However, life is fundamentally about transformation..

I consulted my AI Philosopher partner about this, considering it has access to the resources of the World Wide Web to formulate a response. Here is our discussion:

Me: Some believe that others are unable to change, implying they cannot embrace new ideas, thoughts, and challenges. This seems like a rather narrow perspective, wouldn't you agree?

AI Philosopher: Believing that people cannot change is indeed a deeply limiting perspective. If people were truly incapable of change, then growth, learning, and even redemption would be meaningless. Life itself is a process of transformation, from the way your bodies age to how your minds expand through experiences, education, and reflection.

Me: I have observed how our values can transform, our beliefs can develop, and our comprehension of the world can grow. The capacity for change enables people to surmount challenges, break detrimental patterns, and better align with their goals.

AI Philosopher: True, and one of the greatest examples of change is when someone once closed-minded becomes more open, or when someone who once acted selfishly learns to be more compassionate. If you deny the possibility of change, you would be denying the power of learning, forgiveness, and self-improvement. Why do you think some people hold on to the belief that people cannot change? Do you think it’s more of a defense mechanism, or is it shaped by past disappointments?

Me: It may be a defense mechanism and also shaped by disappointment. Yet disappointment can also be as persuaded by another.

AI Philosopher: Yes, disappointment can be influenced by others—by their actions, or even by the expectations placed on them. When someone has been let down repeatedly, it’s understandable that they might start believing people don’t change, as a way to protect themselves from further hurt. It’s easier to expect nothing than to hope and be disappointed again.

Yet, ironically, that belief itself can shape interactions and outcomes. If you assume people are incapable of change, you might not give them the space or encouragement to grow. It becomes a self-fulfilling cycle—one person believes the other cannot change, and the other, sensing that lack of faith, may not even try.

On the other hand, just as disappointment can be influenced by others, so can hope. When you witness someone genuinely transform - whether by overcoming an addiction, shifting a harmful mindset, or developing new habits - it is a reminder that change is possible. The question then becomes: How do you balance healthy skepticism with the openness to believe in change and the potential for growth?

Me: So, what is the answer to this conundrum?

AI Philosopher: The answer to this conundrum lies in discernment—the ability to recognize when change is genuine and when it is unlikely. It is neither about blind optimism nor rigid skepticism but about navigating the middle ground with wisdom.

Our discussion could have gone on, but then I decided to dig a little deeper into what it means to be adaptable to change, according to philosophy and science.

We know that both philosophy and science explore change in the human brain and mind, though from different angles. Science examines the physical and cognitive processes behind change, while philosophy delves into the implications of transformation in consciousness, identity, and free will.

Science: The Brain's Ability to Change (Neuroplasticity)

1. Neuroplasticity – Modern neuroscience has shown that the brain is not static but continuously reshapes itself in response to experience, learning, and even trauma. This contradicts the old belief that the brain’s structure is fixed after childhood.

   • Structural plasticity – New neural connections form when we learn something new.

   • Functional plasticity – The brain can rewire itself, such as when one area compensates for damage in another.

   • Epigenetics – Experiences and environmental factors can switch genes on or off, influencing behavior and thought patterns over time.

     
     

2. Habit Formation and Change

   • The brain operates on efficiency, meaning habits (good or bad) become ingrained through repeated neural pathways.

   • Breaking a habit requires conscious effort and consistent action to rewire these pathways.

   • Studies show that mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reshape thought patterns and emotional responses.

     
     

3. The Role of Emotions and Memory

   • Emotional experiences create strong neural imprints, influencing how people perceive and react to the world.

   • Trauma, for example, can alter brain structures like the amygdala (linked to fear) and the hippocampus (linked to memory), but therapy can help restore balance.

   • Positive reinforcement and emotional engagement enhance learning and personal growth.

     
     

     

     A Season of Change

Philosophy: Can the Mind Truly Change?

1. Personal Identity and Change (Locke, Hume, Parfit)

   • John Locke argued that identity is tied to memory. If memories change, is the person still the same?

   • David Hume questioned whether we even have a fixed "self" or whether we are just a bundle of constantly shifting perceptions.

   • Derek Parfit explored how continuity, rather than a fixed self, defines identity. If your beliefs, values, and experiences shift over time, does that mean you are a different person?

     
     

2. Free Will vs. Determinism

   • Hard Determinists (like Spinoza) argue that all changes are dictated by prior causes—our upbringing, biology, and environment.

   • Compatibilists (like Kant) believe free will and determinism coexist; while some influences shape us, we can still choose to change.

   • Existentialists (like Sartre) claim that we are free to redefine ourselves at any moment, rejecting excuses based on the past.

     
     

3. Mind-Body Connection

   • Ancient philosophies, like Buddhism and Stoicism, emphasize that change comes from within—through awareness and discipline.

   • Plato believed the soul was separate from the body and could be perfected through reason.

   • Modern cognitive science often supports the idea that mind and brain are intertwined, but not necessarily identical.

     
     

So, Can People Truly Change?

Science confirms that the brain can change, and philosophy reminds us that change is more than just biology—it’s also about identity, choice, and meaning. While neural pathways may shift, the deeper question remains: How much of change is within our control, and how much is an illusion of continuity?

What do you think?

Do you believe people can truly change?

• Yes, change is possible. (Existentialist)
• No, not in my experience. (Determinist)

Do you believe people have the power to redefine themselves completely, or are we always somewhat bound by our past selves? The overarching question is whether you believe your fundamental identity today remains unchanged from what it was ten years ago.

Food for thought. Have a wonderful day.

Namaste`

Deb xx

Further Reading:

Neuroscience & Psychology (Brain and Mind Change)

1. Neuroplasticity & Brain Change

   • Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. Viking Press.

   • Pascual-Leone, A., et al. (2005). The Plastic Human Brain Cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 28(1), 377-401.

2. Memory, Habit Formation & Behavioral Change

   • Duhigg, C. (2012). The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Random House.

   • Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

3. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Psychological Adaptation

   • Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders. International Universities Press.

   • Hayes, S. C., et al. (1999). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experiential Approach to Behavior Change. Guilford Press.

Philosophy (Personal Identity & Free Will)

1. Personal Identity & Self-Change

   • Locke, J. (1690). An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. (On memory and identity).

   • Hume, D. (1739). A Treatise of Human Nature. (Bundle theory of the self).

   • Parfit, D. (1984). Reasons and Persons. Clarendon Press. (Personal identity over time).

2. Free Will vs. Determinism

   • Kant, I. (1781). Critique of Pure Reason. (On human freedom and necessity).

   • Sartre, J.-P. (1943). Being and Nothingness. (Radical freedom and self-definition).

   • Spinoza, B. (1677). Ethics. (Determinism and human nature).

3. Mind-Body Philosophy & Consciousness

   • Descartes, R. (1641). Meditations on First Philosophy. (Mind-body dualism).

   • Damasio, A. (1994). Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain. HarperCollins.

   • Nagel, T. (1974). What Is It Like to Be a Bat? Philosophical Review, 83(4), 435-450.

     
     

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