>Do you believe that after a number of years that personality is set, or can it be changed? I'm not talking about brainwashing, etc, but rather how much of personality is beyond simple will power? There are theories - some would say facts - that the neuro pathways of the brain are so entrenched in certain directions based on experience and repetition, that it's impossible to change them significantly. Others contend that simply by acting differently, personality can be retrained. Like becomming religous and changing the way you act and, I guess, even think. The acting doesn't interest me as much as the thinking. That's much deeper down. Just curious what others thought and if anyone had any background that would shed light on this.

I don't know how relevant this is to you, but many religions - as well as other philosophical movements, I think - claim there is something called "free will". In other words - according to this theory - we have at least some "degree of freedom" with respect to our actions. I think that would include how we behave under a variety of circumstances, i.e., our personality. Of course, many people will choose to continue in their old habits - but that doesn't mean they didn't have another choice.