Yes, of course they can. Think of it like this:

A child's ideology changes as they grow older due to new experiences and deeper understandings. Any person, adult or young, can change because no matter how old you are, you can still learn new things and go through new situations that can open your eyes to a new perspective. It's all part of maturing, that I don't really think ends until you're dead.

As well, if a person is evil, they most likely weren't born that way. Thus, this involves a changing process that would conclude that yes, a person can change. Whether that person can change back to "good" is the question, isn't it? I believe that can.

I am convinced that people can and do change in both intellect, attitudes, and outlook as well as physical growth.

On a personal level I myself have grown considerably since my salad days, and for the better too I might add. It's all to do with our brains gathering experience through our life events, and the culmination of all this is maturity.

Note that I have substituted the word 'change' for 'growth', as I believe that it was you meant in the challenge description, rather than a change of form, which would be rather nice if it were possible.

I do believe my challenge is complete.

I know for a fact that people can change. I, myself, have changed from that which I was into who I am now. I used to be very introverted, and didn't want to talk to anyone. I was very bookish, reading all the time, and playing video games when I wasn't reading. I was desperate for the approval of my peers, but I didn't have any. I had no idea how to talk to girls, and even though I had the occasional run-in with a girl who didn't know better, it wasn't long until I was single again. I'd been kissed by exactly one girl by the time I finally got a clue and got laid (after high school). And then one day I picked up a book that explained social dynamics and the way I could act and talk in order to not only get others to like me, but to actually get the female persuasion to give me the time of day. I found out that there is a science to everything, and being the huge nerd that I am, was able to research and apply these methods to my life. And it was changed forever. From the first Her, to my subsequent success with women and friends, and I'm currently building up my financial profile as well, not to mention the wonders it's done for my writing.

I had never been good at expressing my feelings. Maybe that is why they felt I should ‘talk it out’. The whole thing was stupid. All it made me feel was worse. Seeing a psychiatrist just made me feel like I was letting everyone down; that I was a failure. I wasn’t even honest when I spoke with him. Maybe that was part of the issue. Maybe he was right and I was sabotaging myself by not ‘taking agency’, as was his line.

He loved clever one-liners like that. They were supposed to make me feel like he was relating to me. That I was supposed to suddenly understand. The heavens were to open up and all would be clear. Really though, they just make me sick. I hated them. They all felt fake, a safe response to not upset me because of how fragile I was. He hid behind his sayings like I hid behind a smile.

We all had our masks. What we choose for others to see. It is our armor against an unkind world. I am not any different, my crime is not my silence, but that somebody, the wrong somebody, saw though my mask. That is why I am here. It is not because of my unresolved issues or my relationship with my family or any of that. I am here because my mask cracked and they decided I needed to be saved.

He was talking again. I could hear the dull mummer of his flaccid voice. I stopped listening to the words sometime last week. I could tell by his tone and cadence what my answer was supposed to be. He knew, I was sure, but if he wanted to play this game, fine.

This time he wanted me to lie down. I hated his little arched sofa. Lying down was supposed to make me comfortable physically and then I would be comfortable emotionally and the words would just come pouring out. I hated the stupid thing. I was too soft. It squeezed around me; made me feel trapped, suffocated.

I wordlessly raised my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs. It was probably how he knew I was lying. My body language was terrible. I couldn’t bring myself to care. So what if he knew I was lying. It was his job to know anyway.

Besides, I knew he was hiding behind his mask. Fair was fair. We the same really. All we had to do was switch seats. I knew the questions I didn’t what asked. I could sit with a smug grin and throw questions out and let the silence hang uncomfortably. Anyone can stare wit knowing eyes when they hadn’t a clue. I could even have my own cute little sayings and no one would know. All he had was a title that meant nothing to me.

Worse than nothing. Nothing would have been a stranger, but baring so self-important label made him feel like he could have unlimited access to everything that make me, me. His arrogance was nauseating. His demeanor was sordid. He belonged here and not me.

This is probably where he came from. He was me in this disgusting sofa. He was one of the lost children who were saved from themselves and because one of his types led him from darkness, he is here to return the favor. Well I am not drinking the Kool-Aid. I am me and I am fine how I am. He can yammer on all he likes. He can keep talking until this session runs over again and blame me for it all he likes. I am not changing for anyone.

I always leave

my dominant arm

in its mouth

(Guess that’s just the way it goes)

taking risks in pursuit

of my desires to tame

I want to believe it can happen

It crawls beneath my skin

kneading heat between my shoulders

my lips part, speechless

and it wraps around my tongue

with smooth talking

Slowly, it eases my head back

pours poison

down the back of my throat

with words, with noise

tugs on my bottom lip

pulls me in with hot breath

(and too much exposed neck)

I clench my jaw

and loosen my palms

and await the worst

But in my willingness

It forgets to bite

just grazes my cool flesh

with sharp teeth

and closed eyes

Change is constant. There is nothing is the universe that does not change every millisecond throughout their existence. If we know this, that change is constant throughout everything in the known universe, then yes, people can change. We all know that this answer isn't satisfying because it's too ambiguous and generalized. What we're talking about here is if people can change who have done something wrong to you or are just terrible people in your opinion. We ask this question when we want to like someone but they have wronged us in some way. Cheated, stole, beaten, left, you name it. It's happened and now your feelings say you love that person still, but your mind says to forget them. Then comes the problem of becoming the change you want to see in them, the change you want them to have for you, so they can appreciate you more and give you all of their attention. What usually ends up happening is that they never change, because we let them continue to be what we don't enjoy. We don't leave when we should. We try to pretend everything will be better tomorrow and today is only a bad dream. This is a ploy to make that person into something they may never be, and what does say about us? We've changed, and have become something we'd fight against.

People change everyday, even if they attempt to try to stay the same. They physically become older. They are mentally exposed to ideas that will shift their thinking, even if ever so minutely. They are emotionally touched by new kindnesses and cruelties perpetually, shaping and reshaping their hearts. They are spiritually challenged and rewarded. Change is the one constant every individual does experience.

Most change is subtle. Yet, everyone also experiences moments of instant upheaval, which brings more sudden and swift changes. A car crash, a lost job, a son given a death sentence before he was even born. A marriage, a promotion, the holding of your newborn daughter. How can one not change under such drastic events?

However, your question perhaps implies this question instead:

"Do you think that people have the will to change?"

A subtle difference, and yet the answer is the same.

Can the man in the car crash, that happen to lose one of his legs, change? Can he find the will to change from someone that use to walk but currently cannot, into someone that will walk again?

Can the newlyweds change from being individuals into being more of a unit. Can they make the sacrifices to each other to make the marriage withstand all of the forces that will try to diminish it?

Can the person you love change...

...change the self-destructive behavior that is slowly killing them?

...change the traits you cannot stand to make it easier to take the next step?

...change whatever you are hoping they can change to make yourself feel better about them?

The question can then become more reflective...

"How much change are you willing to do yourself for another? What are the things you are willing to change and what are the things that are off the table? And the scariest question of all. What are the things you would love to change, but are too weak/scared/etc. to do so?"

When you can answer the above honestly to yourself, and then mentally ask the same about the person you are wishing would change, you may get closer to the answer you are probably looking for...

I think that people change daily. Every day is the opportunity to take in something new, to learn from someone and to open yourself up to something that could change your opinion on life, love friendship or yourself.

Look back to when you were in high school, are you the same person? No, you're not. You learned new things and as you venture out on your own and take in new experiences you learn about yourself.

When someone says they are who they are, people don't change, i think that's unrealistic and unfair. People have habits, people are taught things and they learn things and habits can be broken if you don't like them. You can change if you want it bad enough and if you're not happy with yourself then it should be your right to become a person that you like and are happy with without people telling you that it's not possible to change.

Not everyone has the will to but everyone should be given the opportunity to.

Yes. I believe people can change especially if given a second chance in life. It can be situation that can trigger it in which a person tends to come to a realization about their perspective of things. Let me tell you a story which just happened yesterday to my brother. I see this as miracle because he changed, like, drastically.

He just recently went on a trip to china. Now, as you all know china isn't the safest place now next to middle east (i do not intend to offend the middle easterns and chinese i'm merely stating a fact peace be with you) anyway, my brother isn't the best person out there. Most people hate him because of his arrogance and sky high pride. As he was on the streets of Shanghai, he was suddenly surrounded and carried by four men and well you know the usual small room with a single red light. He was asked to give all his money, credit cards and atm (they even have the swiper thing to check the cards), he was then asked to have sex with the girl and give his sperm. We think it was to set him up. But miracles happen, he doesn't know what made them not beat him up or just let him get back to his hotel without scratch but he got out of the situation. He went home right after that and he cried. In my years of existence we have never seen him cry and apologized. I think that taught him a lesson.

My next example is from a friend of mine. She had a boyfriend of 4yrs and they got married at a young age. They were very much happy during their first three years but the next years was hell to them. You see, when they were young all they see was they were inlove and they looked passed all their faults. But as they mature (this was my friends' reason) slowly they realized how different they are, their POV on things and how they see the future. Instead of growing together, they grew apart. They tried to work things out for their son, but with always having to argue even with the little things they eventually seperated. Their marriage took a toll on her for the most part she got depressed but that also changed her. That experience taught her to push her limits, she worked hard for her son and now she's the most awesome mom and person i have ever known.

As we grow older, each experience that we have makes us more mature and wiser.. Hence, even if we don't take notice about it, we do change. constantly. Not all may be good change, but that makes us human. We are entitled to make mistakes over and over again until we learn from it.

I believe people change. I would know this because I have changed. I went from a nice girl to a mean cold-hearted person. I know why I changed and I don't regret changing. My past made me change. People I've met made me change. No, my past doesn't define me. My past makes me who I am. People who say “Your past shouldn't change you” are wrong. What you've went through is enough for you to change. People I trusted left me or betrayed me and I'm only a result of what happened. So go ahead and change because we're supposed to evolve. We're supposed to change. It's life.