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The sociocultural context surrounding individuals has undergone many important changes over the recent decades and centuries. Lifespan psychological and life course sociological perspectives postulate that individual development is shaped by both ontogenetic and historical processes. Although cohort differences in cognitive performance are well documented, evidence for cohort differences in other psychological traits is beginning to accumulate. This chapter highlights the key issues in research on cohort differences in personality and is organized into four sections. It starts with a definition of cohort differences and some methodological considerations. Next, a selective overview is provided of historical changes in living circumstances that are relevant to personality development across the lifespan. This is followed by a selective review of research on cohort differences in a number of psychological traits that …