What is the End of History Illusion?

The "End of History Illusion" is a concept introduced by Harvard professor Dan Gilbert, which suggests that people tend to believe that their personal history has culminated in a fixed endpoint and that they will not change much in the future. Essentially, individuals often perceive that their current state or identity is the pinnacle and that significant growth or change is unlikely from this point onwards. However, this is an illusion because, in reality, people continue to evolve and change throughout their lives. Understanding this can help people navigate traumatic experiences and see them as steps on a larger journey rather than as definitive endpoints in their lives 1 2.