Why do things like race and religion seem to be more of a deal as you get older?

Question

It never seems to be a significant issue for children, but it seems as though once you get into high school and beyond, people increasingly categorize and segregate themselves (e.g., Clubs and Unions based on ethinicity, color, or religion; and people in general tending to congregate in the same way).

Answer 1

I have actually seen it the other way around. The older I get, the better able I am to accept other people and their belief systems. Elementary and middle school kids are terrible for picking on other kids because of their differences. As an adult, I don't get picked on much at all. I am able to be myself and not have to worry if someone is going to single me out because I am different.

Maybe because we group and find others with similarities, we are more secure in who we are and don't feel the need to belittle others as much.

As for religion or color not being an issue for younger kids... try being a devout Muslim in a primarily Christian school system. As for color... try being one of the few black kids at a mostly white school. It is an issue in the elementary schools and in the middle schools.

Answer 2

When you are a kid you have fewer experiences with people that give you a reason to hate and fear them, as you age, you have more.

Some prejudice is taught, but some comes from experiences. They may not be true, but they are a human tendency.

When I was a kid I was harassed by a creepy guy in a blue car, and I still dislike blue cars. It is just the way we are wired.

If we have great experiences with people of other faith and races, then we will have positive prejudices form in our minds.

I know I've got some that go in either direction. I can consciously set them aside, but that initial reaction is simply THERE.

Answer 3

What an excellent question. I have noticed this also.
It may be to do with ego. A child thinks the world is all about them, they don't have the 'cares' that adults tend to adopt.

An adult mind feels threatened by the 'other' (race, intellect, genders etc) and also by fear of death (a major root of religous thought), so the adult mind is more cynical and likes to compartmentalize it's thoughts into "I already l know the answer" sized chunks. The cynical mind is opposite to a child's agape viewpoint. The cynical mind denies experience, and lacks the confidence or lack of care to allow it's dogma to be overthrown.

In short, the adult mind often bends facts to fit their preconception (fiction):

i.e 'all whites are racist, I know 3 white people who are racist (fact) , that is proof that most whites are racist (fiction)'

Whereas a child is normally honest about the way he sees things, and has few preconceptions.

Adult's egos can be so enormous that they think they are THE ONE literally standing between perfect goodness (themselves or their idealogy) and the world (going to hell in a handbasket via racial mixing, homosexuals, immigration, atheism, right wingers, left-wingers, religion, etc etc delete as applicable)

Too much fingerpointing, not enough fingerpainting...

Answer 4

I think it's because as we pass through life we meet people of different races and religions, we are exposed to more stereotypes about them, have more propaganda thrust under our noses and gradually we start to have more and more opinions about it all.
A lot of people get fed up and lazy as they grow older too. They find it easy to simply only associate with people the same as themselves rather than bother attempting to broaden their horizons and open their minds.
The only thing we can do is attempt to break the cycle...

Answer 5

children are innocent.. adults are no longer... sometimes they debate to prove themselves (ego trip), children would rather play and appreciate the smallest of things they like

Answer 6

Social influences, peer pressure, the desire to conform.

Answer 7

these things seem less important to me now than they did in my youth.