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Self-knowledge: Limits, implications, and paths to change
Isabel Thielmann1, Matthias Burghart1
1Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, Germany.
Abstract:
Self-knowledge has intrigued thinkers since antiquity and remains a central topic in personality psychology. Evidence consistently shows that self-knowledge is systematically limited-especially for certain individuals and personality traits. This review highlights recent developments in the study of individual and trait-level differences in self-knowledge, with a focus on the moral domain where limits in self-knowledge are particularly pronounced. These limits have important implications for intentional personality change. We discuss emerging research on personality feedback as a promising method to enhance self-knowledge, while also noting key challenges and unanswered questions that remain for future work.
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