Can people really change?

Question

TW: sexual assault. 
 
Okay so I was rewatching Gossip Girl last night. It has been a while since I’ve seen it and I forgot that one of the main characters (Chuck) sexually assaulted TWO girls in the first episode(s). He pinned them down and tried to force himself on them until they fought away or someone came and helped them. As the series goes on, he becomes one of the most popular and well liked characters. He “changes” and most fans love him by the end of the series. I know this is just a show but do you think this is possible in real life? Can someone that’s done such horrible things actually change? Should their past actions be forgotten with time? 
Also, do you think that a tv series is wrong for glorifying this character to fans and essentially glorifying a man like this? Especially to teens?

Accepted Answer

I believe you can grow up. It doesn’t excuse your past though

Answer

Never seen the show. But I believe people can change if they want to change. & sometimes changed people still have to answer for their past behaviors.

Answer

I watched the show. I think he matured and his priorities changed. I think people onlynfell for Chuck Bass once they saw how much Blaire inspired him to be a better person and softened his heart. I don't recall him sexually assaulting anyone else in the later episodes. We saw the evolution of Chuck Bass. No, I didn't forget his past, but Chuck Bass at 16/17 was different than Chuck Bass at 23/24.

Answer

Except he doesn’t really change. He might not be sexually assaulting people in the end, but he still does shady childish crap throughout the entire series. So does Blair, neither of them really grew up, they just decided they loved each other so we (the audience) were supposed to love them as a couple.

Answer

I have huge issues with that character, not because I don’t think people can change (tho sexual assault is something unforgivable in my eyes, no matter your personal growth afterwards) but because SO MANY young girls watch the show and love the character and think that’s how it works when, in reality, assholes usually stay assholes.

Answer

People can change, but people very rarely do so if they have sexually or physically abused or assaulted someone. Statistically speaking, the vast majority of these people will continue their behavior, often to the point of escalation. True rehabilitation of such people is not impossible, but it is very, very rare. I support continued research into rehabilitation techniques and better treatment options in the mental health field for offenders/people who feel compelled to offend, but far too many people get away with things like this without consequences. It's important that we remember that.

Answer

I think people can change. But I don’t think it matters if they can’t address their past mistakes.

Answer

I don’t think you really change unless you are completely disgusted by your previous actions, you have done serious work (with professional help) to get to the deeper reasons why you did it and how to understand underlying causes for why you did something like that in the first place, and help everyone really see how you are a different person than the person who committed the crime. If he didn’t bother to do any of those things than he doesn’t care enough and is therefore not separated enough from that behavior and probably doesn’t feel that bad or disgusted by what he did.

Answer

Yes, people can change, however in order for people to believe that you have change, you must acknowledge your wrong doing. Failure to acknowledge the past means you have not change.

Answer

I struggled with this watching the show recently for the first time ever. I hated chuck at the beginning but along the way he ended up my favourite character. All the while the actor who played him had just been accused of sexual assault himself. 
I want to believe that people can change and make amends but I'm not sure it forgives their past? I think everyone deserves a second chance and people make mistakes but it is very hard to just forgive and forget a ~mistake~ of this nature. 
I think TV shows especially nowadays face such a fine line between addressing real issues vs glamourizing them. 13 reasons why for example, on one hand it's great they are tackling real issues but on the other they have completely glamourized a very dangerous thing.

Can people really change?

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