Why Do So Many of Us Grow More Conservative as We Grow Older?

[Sunstone]

"If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain". – Usually attributed to Churchill, but quite unlikely to have originated with him.


It's a safe bet that most people, as they grow older, will grow more conservative. Yet if that's so, then why is it so? Of course, one is free to agree with Churchill (or whoever really said it first) that it boils down to brains. But I don't buy into that for a few reasons.

Near as I can see, there are least three things that could manage to change a person's politics as they grow older -- assuming they are not flighty and whimsical people in the first place. The first, and perhaps the most consequential change, might result from a change in their core values. But I think we can dismiss that one right at the start here.

While that might happen with some folks, both the science I've read on that subject, and what I've observed of myself and others, lead me to believe most of us have pretty much carved our core values in stone by the time we're in our early twenties.

The other two potential reasons we might change our politics strike me as much more likely to happen to anyone of us. First, we might learn a lot of facts -- in practice, a whole lot of facts -- that are both new and important enough to us to effect a major change. Second, we might reinterpret the facts we already know in new and important ways. Or we could do both.

When I was in my mid-forties, about twenty five years ago, I started going in the opposite direction most of us expect, moving from right to left on the spectrum. Although I started learning quite a few new facts, I think it was mainly the result of reinterpreting what I already knew.

So what started it all? I am sure that most people -- no doubt cheered on by that insufferable @Terese -- have already reasonably concluded that, in my case, it could only have caused by a catastrophic deterioration of apocalyptic proportions in my neural connections -- given the alarming political views I have developed since then. But I'm shocked! Shocked that anyone would think that, for it simply is not true. By which I mean, of course that happened, but that's not all that happened.

Simultaneous with that catastrophe, I began thinking about politics -- really thinking -- (no joke) for probably the first time in my life. Up until about age 45, I had no real interest in the subject, excepting in a very limited sense. Mostly the sense in which I now and then went through periods when I took pleasure in listening to the likes of Rush Limbaugh crush the sworn enemies of all that was good and decent about America. "Go Rush! You're the only one on my side, the only one who tells it like it is!"

Of course, I'd read a few books at university, but I'd read them selectively. So selectively, they always confirmed what I already wanted to believe, even a Marxist text or two.

It was quite slow going at first when I finally got around to politics. I would read a few articles, a book now and then, but I spent most of my effort on thinking things through. Interpreting them, then reinterpreting them, then reinterpreting them again. Looking back, it would have been both a whole lot faster and easier if I'd known where to start, or had had any hint of what to look for.

Admittedly, I'm a slow thinker when it comes to mulling over new things. It's only been within the last six years or so that I've felt I was finally getting somewhere, getting a reasonably accurate, fact-based understanding of what politics seems to be mostly about, and what's really going on in the world - especially when it comes to sorting out probable fact from most likely fiction in economics.

What's really going on in the world? Must you ask? Aliens, of course. Space aliens. Isn't it at all obvious to you?

And everyone of them dresses like @SalixIncendium. Suspiciously like Salix.

So, why do most people grow more conservative as they grow older? Do we learn more, figure out more, change our values, or some combination of those? Could it be that we just tend to get "set in our ways", and develop an aversion to changes of all kinds? Or are there other factors at play here?

Comments? Questions? Mouth-frothing denunciations of everyone else's political views? Gentle and helpful reminders that I once again forgot to wear any pants when I walked down to the corner store before posting this?

 

[Orbit]

I'm just as liberal now, at 53, as I was at 17. I don't think it's just age, there must be other factors.

PS #toomanypants

 

[Vinayaka]

I question the premise, but then I live in Canada.

 

[Sunstone]

I question the premise, but then I live in Canada.

That's fascinating! I thought it was pretty much an universal tendency. Kind of a relief it might not be true everywhere.

 

[Sunstone]

I'm just as liberal now, at 53, as I was at 17. I don't think it's just age, there must be other factors.

I'm guessing developing with age an aversion to change could be a big one for some folks. But I don't see that much in the people I know, so I think you probably have a good point there.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Young people are often overly idealistic. As one get's older one learns what does not work all that well from a liberal perspective, then as one ages some more one learns what does not work from a conservative perspective.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I think that you ignore another possibility: that individuals do not change all that much, but that society itself shifts around over time, in response to social, legal, political, economic, religious and other drivers of change.

I have known quite a few people who were conservatives in the 70s, 80s and 90s, who now find their views--largely unchanged--to be in the moderate to liberal zone.

I have also known quite a few liberals from the same period, who find themselves to be more moderate to conservative compared to where they once were...

and from both groups, there are a few who have become MORE conservative or liberal...

sometimes it seems to be because their focus changes, and others seem to change by staying still while society has changed around them...

 

[Milton Platt]

"If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain". – Usually attributed to Churchill, but quite unlikely to have originated with him.


It's a safe bet that most people, as they grow older, will grow more conservative. Yet if that's so, then why is it so? Of course, one is free to agree with Churchill (or whoever really said it first) that it boils down to brains. But I don't buy into that for a few reasons.

Near as I can see, there are least three things that could manage to change a person's politics as they grow older -- assuming they are not flighty and whimsical people in the first place. The first, and perhaps the most consequential change, might result from a change in their core values. But I think we can dismiss that one right at the start here.

While that might happen with some folks, both the science I've read on that subject, and what I've observed of myself and others, lead me to believe most of us have pretty much carved our core values in stone by the time we're in our early twenties.

The other two potential reasons we might change our politics strike me as much more likely to happen to anyone of us. First, we might learn a lot of facts -- in practice, a whole lot of facts -- that are both new and important enough to us to effect a major change. Second, we might reinterpret the facts we already know in new and important ways. Or we could do both.

When I was in my mid-forties, about twenty five years ago, I started going in the opposite direction most of us expect, moving from right to left on the spectrum. Although I started learning quite a few new facts, I think it was mainly the result of reinterpreting what I already knew.

So what started it all? I am sure that most people -- no doubt cheered on by that insufferable @Terese -- have already reasonably concluded that, in my case, it could only have caused by a catastrophic deterioration of apocalyptic proportions in my neural connections -- given the alarming political views I have developed since then. But I'm shocked! Shocked that anyone would think that, for it simply is not true. By which I mean, of course that happened, but that's not all that happened.

Simultaneous with that catastrophe, I began thinking about politics -- really thinking -- (no joke) for probably the first time in my life. Up until about age 45, I had no real interest in the subject, excepting in a very limited sense. Mostly the sense in which I now and then went through periods when I took pleasure in listening to the likes of Rush Limbaugh crush the sworn enemies of all that was good and decent about America. "Go Rush! You're the only one on my side, the only one who tells it like it is!"

Of course, I'd read a few books at university, but I'd read them selectively. So selectively, they always confirmed what I already wanted to believe, even a Marxist text or two.

It was quite slow going at first when I finally got around to politics. I would read a few articles, a book now and then, but I spent most of my effort on thinking things through. Interpreting them, then reinterpreting them, then reinterpreting them again. Looking back, it would have been both a whole lot faster and easier if I'd known where to start, or had had any hint of what to look for.

Admittedly, I'm a slow thinker when it comes to mulling over new things. It's only been within the last six years or so that I've felt I was finally getting somewhere, getting a reasonably accurate, fact-based understanding of what politics seems to be mostly about, and what's really going on in the world - especially when it comes to sorting out probable fact from most likely fiction in economics.

What's really going on in the world? Must you ask? Aliens, of course. Space aliens. Isn't it at all obvious to you?

And everyone of them dresses like @SalixIncendium. Suspiciously like Salix.

So, why do most people grow more conservative as they grow older? Do we learn more, figure out more, change our values, or some combination of those? Could it be that we just tend to get "set in our ways", and develop an aversion to changes of all kinds? Or are there other factors at play here?

Comments? Questions? Mouth-frothing denunciations of everyone else's political views? Gentle and helpful reminders that I once again forgot to wear any pants when I walked down to the corner store before posting this?

There may be some truth to older people growing more conservative. It would be interesting to see some legitimate research on the subject. Perhaps the accumulation of wealth over one's lifetime plays a role? I for one bucked the trend, as has almost everyone of my friends. In fact, I have become much more liberal with age. Not on all matters, but on social issues, generally. I still am fairly conservative on fiscal matters. Frankly, I don't see much difference between the parties fiscally at this point.......Both are willing to increase the public deficit at an alarming rate. Republicans say they are conservative, but the budgets they pass do not fall in line with what they are saying when they are trying to get elected. But I've never been one to tow any party line.

A quick Google found this. It's in the Guardian, which is a center-left publication, just FYI
Do we really become more conservative with age? | James Tilley

 

[Father Heathen]

It's worth noting that there is no universal political center. For example, conservatives in Europe or Canada would be considered fairly liberal by U.S. standards.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

That's fascinating! I thought it was pretty much an universal tendency. Kind of a relief it might not be true everywhere.

I agree with @Vinayaka but with one exception: our right wing has drifted further right over the past few decades and plenty of people just kinda drifted along with the change.

We used to have the centre-right Progressive Conservatives and the solidly right Reform Party. After a trouncing in the early 90s due to the right wing vote being split, the two parties merged into the Conservative Party (at least, that was the name they settled on eventually, after realizing that the short form of their first choice was “CCRAP” ). Many former Reform leaders ended up in leadership positions in the new party, which ended up being quite a bit further right than the old PC party ever was... but plenty of people who supported the old PC party just kept on supporting the new Conservative Party.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

It's worth noting that there is no universal political center. For example, conservatives in Europe or Canada would be considered fairly liberal by U.S. standards.

If I moved from Central Illinois to, say, Seattle, I'd have to become a far-right conservative...

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

FWIW, I've gone from being a paid up member of my country's right wing party in my early twenties to the highly cynical centrist I am now. I don't think I've actually changed that much, rather, my one time associates seem to have made a desperate plunge to the fact free, populist/authoritarian extreme right, leaving me behind. I'd still never vote for my country's left wing party, but the party I once belonged to and campaigned for now doesn't reflect my beliefs and values. So I'm kinda left without a meaningful political option. Talking to certain reasonable Americans and Poms, they've experienced similar political dispossession.

I do wonder if we're accidental collateral damage, or if our exclusion was a desired outcome of the respective parties' strategists

 

[fantome profane]

I also question the premise, but I am also Canadian.

But I want to suggest a possible different interpretation. If the radical liberal ideas I held in my early 20’s have become mainstream now, have I become more conservative? Did I change, or did the world change around me?

 

[Audie]

"If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain". – Usually attributed to Churchill, but quite unlikely to have originated with him.


It's a safe bet that most people, as they grow older, will grow more conservative. Yet if that's so, then why is it so? Of course, one is free to agree with Churchill (or whoever really said it first) that it boils down to brains. But I don't buy into that for a few reasons.

Near as I can see, there are least three things that could manage to change a person's politics as they grow older -- assuming they are not flighty and whimsical people in the first place. The first, and perhaps the most consequential change, might result from a change in their core values. But I think we can dismiss that one right at the start here.

While that might happen with some folks, both the science I've read on that subject, and what I've observed of myself and others, lead me to believe most of us have pretty much carved our core values in stone by the time we're in our early twenties.

The other two potential reasons we might change our politics strike me as much more likely to happen to anyone of us. First, we might learn a lot of facts -- in practice, a whole lot of facts -- that are both new and important enough to us to effect a major change. Second, we might reinterpret the facts we already know in new and important ways. Or we could do both.

When I was in my mid-forties, about twenty five years ago, I started going in the opposite direction most of us expect, moving from right to left on the spectrum. Although I started learning quite a few new facts, I think it was mainly the result of reinterpreting what I already knew.

So what started it all? I am sure that most people -- no doubt cheered on by that insufferable @Terese -- have already reasonably concluded that, in my case, it could only have caused by a catastrophic deterioration of apocalyptic proportions in my neural connections -- given the alarming political views I have developed since then. But I'm shocked! Shocked that anyone would think that, for it simply is not true. By which I mean, of course that happened, but that's not all that happened.

Simultaneous with that catastrophe, I began thinking about politics -- really thinking -- (no joke) for probably the first time in my life. Up until about age 45, I had no real interest in the subject, excepting in a very limited sense. Mostly the sense in which I now and then went through periods when I took pleasure in listening to the likes of Rush Limbaugh crush the sworn enemies of all that was good and decent about America. "Go Rush! You're the only one on my side, the only one who tells it like it is!"

Of course, I'd read a few books at university, but I'd read them selectively. So selectively, they always confirmed what I already wanted to believe, even a Marxist text or two.

It was quite slow going at first when I finally got around to politics. I would read a few articles, a book now and then, but I spent most of my effort on thinking things through. Interpreting them, then reinterpreting them, then reinterpreting them again. Looking back, it would have been both a whole lot faster and easier if I'd known where to start, or had had any hint of what to look for.

Admittedly, I'm a slow thinker when it comes to mulling over new things. It's only been within the last six years or so that I've felt I was finally getting somewhere, getting a reasonably accurate, fact-based understanding of what politics seems to be mostly about, and what's really going on in the world - especially when it comes to sorting out probable fact from most likely fiction in economics.

What's really going on in the world? Must you ask? Aliens, of course. Space aliens. Isn't it at all obvious to you?

And everyone of them dresses like @SalixIncendium. Suspiciously like Salix.

So, why do most people grow more conservative as they grow older? Do we learn more, figure out more, change our values, or some combination of those? Could it be that we just tend to get "set in our ways", and develop an aversion to changes of all kinds? Or are there other factors at play here?

Comments? Questions? Mouth-frothing denunciations of everyone else's political views? Gentle and helpful reminders that I once again forgot to wear any pants when I walked down to the corner store before posting this?

I got the idea early.

Mao was one of those idealis
social engineering people out to,
you know.

Thoreau is variously misquoted for
his thought that if he knew someone was
headed his way to do him good, he'd run
for his life.

The socialists blew hard against the gates of
Hong Kong, but they didnt get in.

I've an uncle who was a dedicated
cadre for Mao. He has never gotten past it.
Dont get him started!

Mom told me to observe him, and learn.

 

[metis]

I'm more liberal than I was in my late teens as I used to be a Republican back then. Now, I have to consider the congressional Republicans as being amoral gutless wonders who are far more interested in reelection than in the welfare of the country.

 

[Vinayaka]

I also question the premise, but I am also Canadian.

But I want to suggest a possible different interpretation. If the radical liberal ideas I held in my early 20’s have become mainstream now, have I become more conservative? Did I change, or did the world change around me?

Of course we get to watch our southern neighbours, and in contrast, the very fact we usually have 3 choices shifts the political arena dramatically. We also get the 'anybody but' voting strategy.

 

[Polymath257]

When I was younger, I was more politically confused. Now, I am less confused and more liberal.

Why do many get more conservative over time? Deterioration of the frontal cortex? That's also associated with other diseases of old age, like midlife crises and such. It's also why we tend not to care what other people think as we age.

 

[Milton Platt]

Of course we get to watch our southern neighbours, and in contrast, the very fact we usually have 3 choices shifts the political arena dramatically. We also get the 'anybody but' voting strategy.

As a relatively liberal, non-religious Texan (yes, there are some of us here) I have longed for a "none of the above" lever in the voting booth.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

"If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain". – Usually attributed to Churchill, but quite unlikely to have originated with him.

To some extent, I'm a poster child for this. I was a socialist whilst at Uni, if an exceedingly polite one with lots of questions. I'd consider my more fiscally conservative now, although socially I'd say I'm more liberal. Just depends what is meant by 'conservative'.

It's a safe bet that most people, as they grow older, will grow more conservative. Yet if that's so, then why is it so? Of course, one is free to agree with Churchill (or whoever really said it first) that it boils down to brains. But I don't buy into that for a few reasons.

I'm not convinced it's a safe bet. I think it assumes a somewhat traditional life path, where the poorer, single and idealistic uni student becomes a more wealthy member of the middle class, complete with wife/husband and kids.
Pretty much the path I've followed, to be honest.
Take that path, and I think there is some truth in people often becoming more fiscally conservative. I don't believe the same applies to social conservatism, but I'm just guessing as well. Fiscal conservatism in a relative sense (ie. I'd be left by US standards, I guess, but I'm less left that I was) can be due to the changed circumstance rather than any real change in personality, or overall beliefs.

For example (at a very simplistic/parody level, to illustrate meaning);
I have always been a person concerned with natural justice and fairness. Let's call that my defining characteristic (hey, I did say it's parody)
As a poor uni student who worked hard, was smart, I would look at issues like social mobility, and see it as of vital importance for the cohesion of society. Concepts like providing to all to meet needs, and taking from all based on their capacity to give made sense to me.
As an older person (though still amazingly good looking, of course) I look at issues like social mobility and still see it as of vital importance to the cohesion of society. My basic belief that people must be able to prosper, and society should work together to provide opportunity is unchanged. My ideas in an area like education, for instance, are pretty socialist, even by Australian standards (very simplistically, I like the Finnish model).
However, I have also had various life experiences including becoming a good earner, paying large amounts of tax, running my own company, paying large amounts of business tax/red tape, living in more traditional communities (which are not politically communistic, but were in a localised and practical sense), visited First World countries in Scandanavia, which are more socialist than Australia (as Australia is more socialist than the US). Gained lots of close RL friends from Europe (in particular), and getting exposure to various versions of 'normal' because of it. Lots of stuff.
What I've lost, to some degree, is my idealism. Overall, I'm still a very optimistic person, and still idealistic. But again...in relative terms...I'm less idealistic than I was. That's not because I care less, but everything now passes through a filter of what I've seen, as well as a filter of how hard I've worked to gain what I have, and how much more I have to lose.
I think I'd like my younger self, but I'd see his arguments as lacking nuance and in some cases lacking any utility. It's easy to say 'The world is unfair and needs to be fairer'.

Near as I can see, there are least three things that could manage to change a person's politics as they grow older -- assuming they are not flighty and whimsical people in the first place. The first, and perhaps the most consequential change, might result from a change in their core values. But I think we can dismiss that one right at the start here.

I wouldn't dismiss it in all cases. I think it can happen due to life experiences, and reactionism. For example, consider the possibility that people become more conservative if they have personally experienced job loss, etc. Individuals will not necessarily, but some would, I think.

While that might happen with some folks, both the science I've read on that subject, and what I've observed of myself and others, lead me to believe most of us have pretty much carved our core values in stone by the time we're in our early twenties.

Yep, but core values can relate to beliefs on fairness, and how we see the world then impacts on what we see as 'fair'.

The other two potential reasons we might change our politics strike me as much more likely to happen to anyone of us. First, we might learn a lot of facts -- in practice, a whole lot of facts -- that are both new and important enough to us to effect a major change. Second, we might reinterpret the facts we already know in new and important ways. Or we could do both.

Always both, I think, although the mix varies.

When I was in my mid-forties, about twenty five years ago, I started going in the opposite direction most of us expect, moving from right to left on the spectrum. Although I started learning quite a few new facts, I think it was mainly the result of reinterpreting what I already knew.

So what started it all? I am sure that most people -- no doubt cheered on by that insufferable @Terese -- have already reasonably concluded that, in my case, it could only have caused by a catastrophic deterioration of apocalyptic proportions in my neural connections -- given the alarming political views I have developed since then. But I'm shocked! Shocked that anyone would think that, for it simply is not true. By which I mean, of course that happened, but that's not all that happened.

Simultaneous with that catastrophe, I began thinking about politics -- really thinking -- (no joke) for probably the first time in my life. Up until about age 45, I had no real interest in the subject, excepting in a very limited sense. Mostly the sense in which I now and then went through periods when I took pleasure in listening to the likes of Rush Limbaugh crush the sworn enemies of all that was good and decent about America. "Go Rush! You're the only one on my side, the only one who tells it like it is!"

Of course, I'd read a few books at university, but I'd read them selectively. So selectively, they always confirmed what I already wanted to believe, even a Marxist text or two.

One of the things I've been thankful for is how widely I have read, and that I have been able to force myself to read some texts which contradict me (deliberately). I'd say the more extreme and heavy left-leanings texts I've read were mostly in Uni though.

It was quite slow going at first when I finally got around to politics. I would read a few articles, a book now and then, but I spent most of my effort on thinking things through. Interpreting them, then reinterpreting them, then reinterpreting them again. Looking back, it would have been both a whole lot faster and easier if I'd known where to start, or had had any hint of what to look for.

Admittedly, I'm a slow thinker when it comes to mulling over new things. It's only been within the last six years or so that I've felt I was finally getting somewhere, getting a reasonably accurate, fact-based understanding of what politics seems to be mostly about, and what's really going on in the world - especially when it comes to sorting out probable fact from most likely fiction in economics.

Is your premise around fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, or both? Because nothing I have said above applies to my social beliefs.

So, why do most people grow more conservative as they grow older? Do we learn more, figure out more, change our values, or some combination of those? Could it be that we just tend to get "set in our ways", and develop an aversion to changes of all kinds? Or are there other factors at play here?

Comments? Questions? Mouth-frothing denunciations of everyone else's political views? Gentle and helpful reminders that I once again forgot to wear any pants when I walked down to the corner store before posting this?

Yeah, yeah...you 'forgot' to wear pants. Yet remembered to style your pubic hair.
Anyways, that's my opening ramble. Interesting topic.

 

[Vinayaka]

As a relatively liberal, non-religious Texan (yes, there are some of us here) I have longed for a "none of the above" lever in the voting booth.

I feel grateful to usually have 3 or more choices. To be honest, the last few elections I've voted strategically for the party that had the best chance of defeating the party I really didn't want to win. If I voted by conscience, I'd vote Green, but they have such little chance, it feels like a wasted vote.