According to psychoanalytic theory, participants who alter their personality traits likely have:

Participants who alter their personality traits are seen as having stronger egos when viewed through the lens of psychoanalytic theory. The ego, according to Sigmund Freud, acts as the mediator between the id (which is driven by primal urges) and the superego (which embodies moral standards). A stronger ego typically indicates better management of both the desires of the id and the pressures of the superego, thereby enhancing one’s ability to adapt and alter or refine personality traits in response to situational demands.

In the context of personality change, an effective ego facilitates the process of introspection and self-regulation, allowing individuals to engage in behaviors that are more aligned with their values and social expectations. This adaptability is essential for personal growth and the modification of personality traits over time, suggesting a level of psychological maturity and flexibility.

The other choices do not accurately capture the relationship between ego strength and personality alteration. While superegos may be involved in moral reasoning, the ability to change personality traits is more directly related to the capacity of the ego to mediate between internal desires and external realities. Likewise, the id is primarily focused on instinctual drives and does not engage in rational thought processes that would support personality modification.