Children adapt to changes with ease, a key for survival/progress. Why do we get less flexible as we grow up?

Question

Would it not be better if we could maintain the same flexibility of a child's mind so as to progress more rapidly?

Answer 1

i think as we grow up our thought patterns tend to run along the same paths. have you ever gone over and over something in your mind? its how we easily recall what is bad for us. (poison symbol? dont drink it.) the problem with this re-running of our thought processes is that we lose our flexiblity. would you still want to have the flex of an 18 mth old if it meant that you couldnt remember, or understand that it was dangerous to run out on a road. an interesting question.

Answer 2

i like some of these answers,(eg rosie.m).
To change,adapt and grow we need examples,inc a
childlike mind(Einstein was so).
Take Darwinism;i take it as obvious that we all understand
it as an "expanded"idea,rather than just the biological
Survival-of-the-fittest(a la charles Darwin).
So;only adults can know the success of its spread,from
science to education.
And i choose this idea as an example not just because
it is interesting,but because-in discussions with mainly non-expert adults-an amount of experience is required for its
understanding(i mean its understanding of its influence,
not just in our western world but in the rest too).
And even a(reasonable) politician of any Party, should understand its influence;in my experience even ordinary adults as well as children have trouble grasping this.
(also, i take it that most adults realize that politicians should be classed as ordinary,average people)

Answer 3

Part of it is that we develop preferences as we grow. It is the preferences that get us stuck in a rut, and our mind closed to learning new things, and sometimes trying new things. Physically as we age our bodies, if not properly cared for become less efficient, which causes us to loose the ability to try new activities. We also develop fears, for example pain, we realize risks are involved, if injury is possible, we decide if the possible outcome is worth the risk. Scientifically once we reach a certain age our brain cells start to die off, this may explain in part the inability to quickly learn new things.

Answer 4

Re your first question: part of it is the physical nature of the brain that is changing up the the time of adulthood and part of it is social structure that pushes people towards defined roles and conformity of thinking. That conformed thinking physically affects brain structure as well.

More and more studies have shown that mental activity can be the 'exercise' that can stave off a physical deterioration such as Alzheimers. So for your second point/question takes on even more relevance. I think it is far better for individuals and society to push our mental capacities as far as possible.

Peace

Answer 5

Children are adaptible because they lack a frame of reference with which to compare circumstances. Over time, we remember similar situations and pattern our reactions on what we learned before.

So our inability to adapt is a function of the very learning process that allowed us to survive the first change.

Answer 6

a childs brain is like modelling clay.you can mold it in to any form when it is fresh and soft but as it is heated and turned in to a vessel we cant change it any more.a childs brain consists of a few neurons whichare the building blocks of brain.they adapt to new experiences as the brain grows along with it.when we are old the neurons fully form the brain leaving things for it to do by itself.

Answer 7

We are becoming slaves of our habits: coffee at five, news at 7, fitness in the morning and all the other things that makes our life programed. We lose that childish open mind, open heart, we put some shields on us trying to protect our lives - from life actually.
Pass through the water with most sharpest knife, you will not cut it. And try to twist some wooden stick - it will broke.

As harder we become with years, that makes us more vulnerable and less adoptable to any change in our life.

Answer 8

When we are young change is an adventure, something new to explore. As we age change becomes something to fear partly because we feel inadequate partly because we like our comfortable groove.

Answer 9

i believe it's because we get a taste of how difficult life can really be and we suffer through consiquences that bring us through hardships and children don't example---
bad bussiness investments leads to debt loss of things valuable house car extras we really enjoy having to work extra harder to make ends meet
we have alot more stress and respoinsibilites children can't understand or even dream of yet.

Answer 10

Our preferences grow with us.