A teacher preparation course said youthful idealism peaks at twelve years and gradually declines in the teen years. Why do some adults, even in their senior years, remain so fervently — even rigidly — idealistic?
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7 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.My thoughts, Because change is hard and scary, better to hold on to old beliefs than try to accept that things change and that what they thought may be all wrong. Fear of the unknown is powerful.
Mermaidfantasy
Level 7
Aug 23, 2019
0
Change might preserve one’s health or life.
Have you heard of the ancient Chinese curse, May you live in a time of change?
Someone who feared it changed it to, May you live in an interesting time.
@yvilletom Everyone lives in a time of change, because we are always changing as we discover new things, Does not mean some people want to except it. The older people get the less they want things to change.
Don't look at me. 
But, I think some do as a kind of emotional survival. It staves off the depression of an impending sense of mortality.
Heraclitus
Level 8
Aug 19, 2019
0
Why do a majority of folk give up on Santa and the Easter bunny aroud 4-7 years...yet still hold on to heaven, virgin birth, walking on water and other myths?
Robecology
Level 9
Aug 19, 2019
0
I would question the validity of that teacher prep course...
Cutiebeauty
Level 9
Aug 19, 2019
0
Re the teacher prep course’s validity.
First, power is an ability to effect change. It is not evil, although people without power rightly fear those with power.
Now, consider the pendulum effect. Pendulums gradually stop swinging.
First, youthful idealists have few allies and lack power. They are unable to effect change. With a gradual decline, they can quickly settle into realism, gain allies and power.
With a much later sudden decline they go to the opposite extreme, cynicism. With few allies they lack power, and pendulum-like, swing past realism to idealism and again lack power.
The goal is realism, allies and power.
@yvilletom I think that perhaps magical thinking or the imagination are better words to use here instead of idealism.... There are many adult idealists in the world... And also cynics.. To say that children become cynical at twelve doesn't sound right...
@Cutiebeauty The teacher prep course did not say kids become cynical at twelve, though my words above implied it. See the added “much later”.
