Why would somebody's political views become more conservative as they get older?

Question

I've been reading over some Y! Answers that have to do with political views, and the majority of them say (in response to certain questions) as you get older and gain more knowledge typically you become more conservative. Why would that be? I would think as you acquire more knowledge and become aware of other cultures, etc. that would make you more tolerant and perhaps more liberal.

There are some things I feel I need to address. For those of you who think I think conservatists are uncultured-when I originally worded that -I knew being aware of other cultures was not something belonging just to liberals. I was trying to say that it seems (to me) this might simply influence the way an individual leans-though anyone can certainly be cultured.
Tolerance too -sure anyone may or may not have it to a degree. I didn't mean to offend anybody by saying they were 'uncultured and intolerant.'
For my question-I am summarizing that being older and typically having worked for more assests -people want to keep all that -while being young and having nothing to lose, it would be 'cold' for a young person to be conservative since it wouldn't 'hurt' them as much? (in a nutshell). I find this a selfish stand of the former but at the same time I could also see why people would want to keep what they worked for...
The 'reality' for this being..?What? Liberalism is 'unrealistic'?

Answer 1

Usually, when you are young, single, and motivated, you want to help the world. You want to spark change and improve as much as possible. Your main concern is the state of the world. This tends to lead to liberal politics.

When you get older, you own a house, have kids, and are running a family. You care less about the world, and more about your own family. So your main concern is your family and you property. This tends to lead to conservative politics.

Answer 2

First, this isn't universally true. (My 80 year old Mom is as radical as ever! Bill Moyers also springs to mind. Of course there are others; though they do seem to be a minority.)

I have 2 hypotheses:

Some people acquire more wealth over time; the more you have, the more you identify with the side that favors the rich.

The world and society change; a lot of people are alarmed at this. People tend to compare the worst of today with a rosy view of the past, and hence long for them so-called good old days.

Also, people forget how they were when they were young, and seeing all the ways the young differentiate themselves from previous generations, "rebel" by resisting and battling the trends of the young.

Time speeds up as one ages; it's harder to keep up with changes, and they feel really fast.

So, as you experience this speed-up, you tend to resist.

Not being able to get the hang of new technologies doesn't help.

Some people become jaded by lack of progress, and so give up their earlier ideals on the grounds that there's no use to keeping them.

If you're unrealistic (as the young tend to be), you're going to be disappointed.

Well, I seem have more than 2 hypothoses there -- it's probably even more multi-textured and complex than I've written, but these are what occured to me.

When you look at people who DON'T change, they tend to be (as the two examples I cited) people who are involved and engaged, keep up with what's going on, and whose ealier committment to principles of the left was deep and genuine, and not a matter of mere fad.

(A guy once told me that he opposed the Vietnam war because girls liked it and it was a lot easier to get laid if you were anti-war.)

Interesting question! Now to read what others had to say.

As for myself, I've made a conscious effort all my life to remember the complaints of my generation when young, and so notice the same sorts of things said by that generation about the next.

When I was young, hair length was such a big deal, with young people saying that judging people on hair length was wrong and dumb.

Many of those same people now say similar things their elders said, but about about piercings and radical hair colorings (pink, green, and such).

"But that's different." Right.

Of course, it's different for those with kids. Things that seemed good to do when you were a teen, say, are horrifying to contemplate your "baby" doing when they are teens.

Answer 3

We don't really change our political "views", but, we do tend to express our selves in a more subdued manner. It encourages our children to find their own thoughts and respect the thoughts of others. The problem arises when some younger people try to express their views in the political arena it usually comes with some emotional fodder. Then they get all pissy when the adults try to express a view different, or even a similar view just told differently, from their own. It's sad and funny at the same time. some political party tries to exploit this with a variation of their views to sell to that emotional group and raise their ire at the "despicable" other party.It's been going on for generations.

Answer 4

I was liberal when I was young, but as I got older my views are conservative. I'm 55 years old and I detest liberals. I think that one reason is that you work hard all of your life and try save your money and live a good life then the liberals want to raise your taxes and give it to the poor. I worked hard and my money belongs to me and nobody has a right to take it away from me. It makes less tolerant of other people. I don't want to hear people whining that they don't have money or health care etc. If they want it, let them go earn it the way that I did.

Answer 5

I guess you have studied humans very less. Humans dont become conservative or liberal with age. Its just a persons personality, understanding and intellect that in the end keep the persons views on the world changing or growing as applicable

Answer 6

Youth has dreams that go unrealized. Experience says that the great dreams and plans we had as youngsters were jut that. Reality is much more harsh than those inexperienced youngsters see it. As one matures we earn more money and thus lose sight of and understanding of what being poorer is like. I don't think gaining more knowledge has made anyone more conservative but being a curmudgeon has. People get cynical and uncaring when they work many years and see people with far less knowledge or skill getting a big salary and bonuses for very little work. That turns them grouchy and thus more apt to embrace a more conservative viewpoint.

Answer 7

As you get older you eventually see that there has to be balance between utopian idealism and real world reality...that yes, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all just get along and everyone was rich and everyone got everything they needed in life...yes, it would be great...but life just doesn't work that way. You learn that hard lesson as you get older. When you reach that point, you become a conservative.

edit: Someone posted that there was a correlation between (lower) education level and conservatism. While I challenge the assertion and personally have a college education, I would also observe that some of the most educated people I have ever met didn't have the sense to come in out of the rain. Wisdom and common sense do not go hand-in-hand with how many degrees you hold.

Answer 8

Actually only some people become more conservative as they get older because as they age some people lose brain cells and thinking ability. Still, the cure is education. You make a good point that as you acquire more knowledge and become aware of other cultures, etc. that would make you more tolerant and perhaps more liberal.

Studies show that the more education someone has, the more they vote Democrat. All you have to do is educate yourself and you will be more Democratic in your voting.

The scientific data proves "The more educated the population of a state, (as measured by the percentage of the population with a Bachelor's degree or higher), the less likely that state was to vote for George W. Bush in the 2000 Presidential Election"

Even Karl Rove admits when people have more education they vote Democratic so there's no way to deny it and anyone who gives this a thumbs down only proves what the studies show - they don't want to know the facts and they don't want anyone else to know the facts either, but you can check the link to see.

Answer 9

Older people have more invested in the current system due to gradual accumulation of experience and assets (they spent a lot of time learning how to live in the current system). Change in the system negates some of these accumulations and is difficult. Its easy for youngsters to change because they have nothing to lose.

Conservatism is a resistance to change, liberalism is a trend towards change. Neither is better or wiser, both depend on your position within existing society, and both are NECESSARY for an evolving society.

Answer 10

What a bunch if dumazz answers.


A lot of people I work with become more conservative just to fit in. There is no real answer to that question people just do things to adapt with their environment.

People do stupid stuff sacrifice what they believe in to blend in with friends, co-workers, a spouse. Not too many people out here can stand on their own two feet otherwise there would be a liberal and a conservative. Those are groups and if you have to blend into a group you are WEAK.


RJ

Answer 11

It is amazing at how little people know about conservatism. I have been conservative all of my life, all 44 years of it. So I am not old and I certainly not wealthy. But I have always questioned things as to why they are done that way and what effect it will have on me. By simply asking why, I have learned that when you take from one human to give to another, you have a tendancy to take the first person's humanity and prevent the second from finding their own.

Why do I have to bust my butt all my life to have things taken from me to give to someone else who does not do anything to better themself? By constantly taking from me, you help create a sense of frustration and a desire to give up because I will never be able to better myself. The government will see to that by taking more from me the more successful that I am.

And just why would I who is given things for nothing want to improve myself? If I get better, then the government takes away the help I need to get better.

It is way too easy to be liberal because all you have to do is say that you are trying to do good even though you have not considered the consequences of your good intentions. You take away from other, but you are helping this one. Is that fair? Is it humane? Is it logical?

When you give a hand and enthusiasm to someone who is down, then in a short time, they are no longer down. Further, in the long run, you have done more for that person and for yourself than you could have if you just give to them. For example, it sure would be nice to be invited to someone's new house who I gave a job to when they were unemployed than to give them $10,000.00 but told them there were strings to that money. That hamburger would taste much better off the other person's grill than off mine.

Oh and one other thing. Just because I was/am a young conservative does not mean that I am not aware of other cultures and such. I was quite aware of other cultures as a teen and a young parent. As I have gotten older, I can see the path which liberals are taking us and do not want that goal for my kids. I want them to be better off than I was and the way to do that is to teach them how to live in this world. Libs would have them wards of the government and taken care of by the government.

My kids and I are humans and not slaves!!!!