http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080310/sc_livesci...rnmoreliberalwithage


Clara Moskowitz
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.comMon Mar 10, 2:15 PM ET

The stereotype of a cranky old man, set in his ways, getting more conservative by the day, is an enduring one. But new research has debunked the myth that people become more conservative as they age.

By comparing surveys of various age groups taken over a span of more than 30 years, sociologists found that in general, Americans' opinions veer toward the liberal as they grow older.

"All the evidence we have found refutes the idea that as people age their attitudes become more conservative or more rigid," said Nicholas Danigelis, a sociologist at the University of Vermont. "It's just not true. More people are changing in a liberal direction than in a conservative direction."

Detailed study

Danigelis and collaborators Stephen Cutler of the University of Vermont and Melissa Hardy of Pennsylvania State University analyzed data from the U.S. General Social Surveys of 46,510 Americans between 1972 and 2004. While the surveys did not provide data for the same individuals at different stages, they represented snapshots of the changing attitudes of respondents in different age cohorts over time. The researchers corrected for the fact that the age groups at different survey times are made of up new members with unique baseline opinions.

The surveys assessed attitudes on politics, economics, race, gender, religion and sexuality issues. In some cases, such as racial issues and questions of civil liberties for communists, the researchers measured a greater change toward liberalism in older people than in younger people.

"What we believe has happened, at least for the race relations, is that the older group, starting out at a position of significantly more negative feelings, had further to go," Danigelis told LiveScience.

If people really become more liberal as they age, why does common wisdom hold the opposite to be true?

People might find an average 60-year-old to be more conservative than an average 30-year-old, Danigelis said, but beware of extrapolating a trend. The older person, for example, might have started off even more conservative than he or she is now.

Danigelis also blamed the misconception on pervasive negative attitudes toward the elderly in our country, and stereotypes that depict seniors as rigid, ornery and set in their ways.

"If you look at any greeting cards about getting older you've got a wonderful lecture about age stereotypes," he said. "My colleague continues to cut out cartoons about getting old and trying to teach old dogs new tricks."

Election impact

Danigelis said politicians and pundits should try to steer clear of stereotypes in the upcoming election.

"The assumption that older voters are stuck their ways of thinking or are likely to go with a conservative candidate and are not open to new information - I think there's a lot of information to suggest that that's not going to happen," he said.

He urged people to judge John McCain, the 71-year-old Republican nominee for president, on his politics rather than his age.

"Age will be an issue in the campaign, as will race and gender, which is unfortunate," Danigelis said. "Maybe this is the campaign to knock down a bunch of stereotypes."

The study was published in the October 2007 issue of the journal American Sociological Review.

In the future, the researchers hope to investigate whether similar trends occur in other cultures and societies.

"There are international surveys that might allow you to do a similar study," Danigelis said. "Our gut feeling is yes but we haven't tested that and we hope to."
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LOL, If this is true, some here must have made Attila the Hun look like Barney Frank in their younger days.

quote:

Originally posted by USAF_76_2_80:
LOL, If this is true, some here must have made Attila the Hun look like Barney Frank in their younger days.

Been there done that.


But I'm still young (God it feels good to say that)

I'm pretty much in the old-codger-grown-more- conservative-with-age group. I was of a liberal/libertarian bent most of my life. Then I found myself listening to Rush more and more and being persuaded. In spite of the fact that he poo-poos the notion of a 'political conservative/social liberal', I'm living proof that we do exist.

I'd never heard this myth. I always heard it the other way 'round.

quote:

Originally posted by cheapthrills:
In spite of the fact that he poo-poos the notion of a 'political conservative/social liberal', I'm living proof that we do exist.

That would be libertarian. There's a lot more of you (us) than he thinks.

I come down as a libertarian when taking surveys.

quote:

People Turn More Liberal With Age, Then Die.

Stay conservitive, live longer.

The older I get, the stronger my Christian faith has become...

The stronger my Christian faith has become, the more liberal/libertarian I get...

quote:

Originally posted by Opfor6:

quote:

People Turn More Liberal With Age, Then Die.

Stay conservitive, live longer.

Opfor6 change is good. Take a walk on the wild side bud.

I started off conservative and have become increasingly liberal but then I am only in my mid 30s. When I was 18 I voted conservative. I started voting Democratic when I reached my late 20s and have not looked back.

It all depends by what you mean by liberal and conservative. Are you going by what those terms really mean, or what they mean in popular culture in America?

It would wrong to suggest that as people age, they trend toward knee-jerk, emotional based decisions and dreamy idealism.

Of course Conservatives in America aren't really Conservative at all, and many are much more liberal than most American Liberals. Really, Liberals haven't had a new idea since the 60s and most tend to be very Conservative, still clinging to that time and place in American history. If only liberals really were liberal.

It may be that as people experience life, they realize that getting all het up over people who don't look or think like you isn't terribly productive. Folk could also realize the benefit of being decent to other people, even people that aren't in your country club.

quote:

Originally posted by sweetsuds:
It may be that as people experience life, they realize that getting all het up over people who don't look or think like you isn't terribly productive. Folk could also realize the benefit of being decent to other people, even people that aren't in your country club.

Tell that to your "sistahs" at Hahvahd.

quote:

Originally posted by sweetsuds:
It may be that as people experience life, they realize that getting all het up over people who don't look or think like you isn't terribly productive.

Learning that there are people different from you in this world is something you learn in Kindergarten. It isn't exactly high enlightenment. You might consider that if someone has issues with others, there may be more to it than over simplified reasons of shallow differences.

quote:

Folk could also realize the benefit of being decent to other people, even people that aren't in your country club.

Isn't Harvard one giant elitist country club? What percentage of the Harvard student body is made up of the kids of average blue collar families?

quote:

Originally posted by Azurerepublic:
It all depends by what you mean by liberal and conservative. Are you going by what those terms really mean, or what they mean in popular culture in America?

It would wrong to suggest that as people age, they trend toward knee-jerk, emotional based decisions and dreamy idealism.

Of course Conservatives in America aren't really Conservative at all, and many are much more liberal than most American Liberals. Really, Liberals haven't had a new idea since the 60s and most tend to be very Conservative, still clinging to that time and place in American history. If only liberals really were liberal.

I agree

Awww horseshh!t!

I registered to vote at 19 going on 20 in 1988. I registered Democrat and have not changed since. I tend to vote Democrats at state level (PA) and mostly Republicans at Federal level.

I consider myself affiliated with neither party and would love to see a viable 3rd party emerge.

Some common issues and where I stood/stand:

Gun control-2nd Amendment, always a hard right
Abortion- Prolife then/pro choice now, but I would rather see abortions for health issues not birth control.

Death Penalty- Always against it until judicial and prison reform come first.

Taxes- Hate them and anyone who thinks raising them is the answer to the country's ills.

enviromentalism- An excuse for liberals to monopolize on "green technology" to counter conservatives death grip on oil. I subscribe to recycling and don't dig air or water pollution but global warming is a farce as far as I am concerned this is a moderate stance. Both parties suck on this.

The Military- Not nearly big enough. Increase Army Special Ops by 75%. Increase USMC expeditionary forces by 50%. Return Army to 18 division prior to the Bush 41 and Clinton reductions. Get out of UN. Quit getting former com-bloc countries in NATO. Missile defense is a must. Pull out of Balkans and Sinai, reduce footprint in Korea and Germany. Permanent bases in Kuwait and Al Asad Iraq.

Gay Marriage- whatever, it doesn't effect me.

Welfare/entitlements/Subsudies- I never asked for them, I never used them; I shouldn't have to pay higher taxes to fund the lives of lazy people, shiftless people, stupid people and unambitious people who do nothing to improve their lives except walk out to the mailbox on the 1st of the month.

Social Security- It won't be here when I am old enough regardless of party. I invested and continue to do so. If I could get away without paying in to it, I would.

So, you tell me; what am I???

i dont agree..

quote:

Originally posted by Azurerepublic:

quote:

Originally posted by sweetsuds:
It may be that as people experience life, they realize that getting all het up over people who don't look or think like you isn't terribly productive.

Learning that there are people different from you in this world is something you learn in Kindergarten. It isn't exactly high enlightenment. You might consider that if someone has issues with others, there may be more to it than over simplified reasons of shallow differences.
Yet, I meet people far past the kindergarten age who get all worked up when meeting someone who may think, love, look, or believe differently.

quote:

Folk could also realize the benefit of being decent to other people, even people that aren't in your country club.

Isn't Harvard one giant elitist country club? What percentage of the Harvard student body is made up of the kids of average blue collar families?

What does Harvard have to do with any of this? This study wasn't restricted to Harvard alums.

quote:

Originally posted by R102:

quote:

Originally posted by Opfor6:

quote:

People Turn More Liberal With Age, Then Die.

Stay conservitive, live longer.

Opfor6 change is good. Take a walk on the wild side bud.

I started off conservative and have become increasingly liberal but then I am only in my mid 30s. When I was 18 I voted conservative. I started voting Democratic when I reached my late 20s and have not looked back.

I'm no teetotaler Sunday school boy. I started with Reagan in 76 and have never looked back, to busy moving ever forward.

Maybe you fear that this poll is not true or worse that you will still end up be one of those who start to realize that liberalization is a form of insanity and leads to Societal collapse.

All we can do is hope.

quote:

Originally posted by outrageusa:
Awww horseshh!t!

I registered to vote at 19 going on 20 in 1988. I registered Democrat and have not changed since. I tend to vote Democrats at state level (PA) and mostly Republicans at Federal level.

I consider myself affiliated with neither party and would love to see a viable 3rd party emerge.

Some common issues and where I stood/stand:

Gun control-2nd Amendment, always a hard right
Abortion- Prolife then/pro choice now, but I would rather see abortions for health issues not birth control.

Death Penalty- Always against it until judicial and prison reform come first.

Taxes- Hate them and anyone who thinks raising them is the answer to the country's ills.

enviromentalism- An excuse for liberals to monopolize on "green technology" to counter conservatives death grip on oil. I subscribe to recycling and don't dig air or water pollution but global warming is a farce as far as I am concerned this is a moderate stance. Both parties suck on this.

The Military- Not nearly big enough. Increase Army Special Ops by 75%. Increase USMC expeditionary forces by 50%. Return Army to 18 division prior to the Bush 41 and Clinton reductions. Get out of UN. Quit getting former com-bloc countries in NATO. Missile defense is a must. Pull out of Balkans and Sinai, reduce footprint in Korea and Germany. Permanent bases in Kuwait and Al Asad Iraq.

Gay Marriage- whatever, it doesn't effect me.

Welfare/entitlements/Subsudies- I never asked for them, I never used them; I shouldn't have to pay higher taxes to fund the lives of lazy people, shiftless people, stupid people and unambitious people who do nothing to improve their lives except walk out to the mailbox on the 1st of the month.

Social Security- It won't be here when I am old enough regardless of party. I invested and continue to do so. If I could get away without paying in to it, I would.

So, you tell me; what am I???

Libertarian

The survey may or may not be correct. There are always question when any survey is done.

1. What is the purpose of the survey.
2. Why over a 30yr period and taking a sample of only 46,510 of a population of approximately, at present 300,000,000?
3. Why wasn't the same people charted from 1972 to 2004?
4. How was conservatism judged and who set the criteria?
5. If there were questions asked, how were they asked and what were the questions?

Many times, because a university does a survey we are like lemmings and fall over a cliff because we believe schools of higher learning are infallible.
I'm in agreement with alot of what Azurerepublic posted.