Person-Environment Fit and its implications for personality development: a longitudinal study
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits
Published on: September 27, 2019
Brent W Roberts1, Richard W Robins
1Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61820, USA. broberts@s.psych.uiuc.edu
Abstract:
Continuity and change in Person-Environment Fit (PE Fit) and its relation to personality development was studied in a 4-year longitudinal study of college students (N=305). PE Fit demonstrated moderate rank-order stability and small increases in mean-levels over time. Antecedents to PE Fit included gender (being male), high academic ability, low agreeableness, and low neuroticism. Outcomes associated with PE Fit included greater personality consistency and changes in personality in the direction of higher self-esteem and lower agreeableness and neuroticism. The implications of the findings for personality development are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Introduction to Personality Psychology
Early Theories of Personality
The study of personality dates...
Implicit Personality Theories
Cattell's 16 Personality Factors
In contrast, source traits are the fundamental,...
Self-Report Tests of Personality
Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...