Rank-Order Stability

The degree to which people keep their position relative to others on a trait over time.

• Ex: Mari becomes more conscientious between ages 20 and 40, but she remains less conscientious than most of her peers.
• Ex: The students who scored highest on extraversion as freshmen are mostly the highest scorers as seniors.

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Last updated: October 20, 2026 at 10:26 AM