Final answer:
Adolescents typically experience dramatic changes in their personalities compared to their pre-adolescent selves, including the development of a stronger sense of personal identity, moral and ethical values, and emotional independence from parents.
Step-by-step explanation:
Personality Changes During Adolescence
The question regarding how much personalities differ before and after adolescence can be quite complex. However, research and psychological theories suggest that during adolescence, individuals typically experience dramatic changes in their personalities. Psychosocial changes during this time are significant, including the development of a personal identity, a personal value system, and increased emotional separation from parents.
During adolescence, the individual is in the Erikson Ian stage of identity versus role confusion, and is primarily concerned with the task of developing a sense of self. The exploration of various roles leads many adolescents to try out different selves, which can result in a dramatic shift in personality from childhood. It is also the period when the frontal lobes, responsible for many aspects of personality and decision-making, continue to develop, and do not become fully mature until around 25 years of age.
In summary, while there can be variations between individuals, adolescents typically experience dramatic changes in personality compared to their pre-adolescent selves.