Can we change who we really are?

The concept of the internal locus of control, brought to the forefront by Rotter, is one of the most enlightening and accurate aspects of personality that we have covered thus far.
The theory of the internal locus of control is of significant importance to me because I have taken the stance that a behavior is guided by his/her personal decisions and efforts. In deed, I have prided myself on this psychological attribute. I assumed that taking this position is what differentiates an adult from a child. It seems almost natural that as both men and women mature that we would follow similar growth curves. This does not seem to be the case. As described by Rotter, Males tend to be more internal than females, and, as we age our initial focus deviates from the external to the internal.
I cannot honestly say which personality trait is the best. After all, both external and internal loci of control have many benefits and drawbacks, but according to Wilderdom.com there are slight advantages to adopting an internal control. “Psychological research has found that people with a more internal locus of control seem to be better off, e.g., they tend to be more achievement oriented and to get better paid jobs.” Admittedly, this statement does appease me because, in fact, the desired outcome of taking responsibility for our actions is to be recognized for our selflessness and to be rewarded accordingly. This argument is not exactly the most altruistic approach and it certainly confirms an extrovert’s assumption that introverts are aloof. That viewpoint is not always the case. Internals have to take the good with the bad as well. Having this personality trait may provide the illusion that internals are rooted in a strong foundation but in actuality this seemingly unshakable structure cracks at the slightest hint of loss of control.
Whether you are an external or internal, what needs to be realized is that these are learned traits and are changeable. An online web article states that “Sometimes Locus of Control is seen as a stable, underlying personality construct, but this may be misleading, since the theory and research indicates that that locus of control is largely learned. There is evidence that, at least to some extent, LOC is a response to circumstances. Some psychological and educational interventions have been found to produce shifts towards internal locus of control”( Wilderdom.com)”
Whether you have an internal locus of control or the alternative it is important to understand two things: these behaviors are learned, and that the in order to seem balanced you needs to adopt both internal and external characteristics.