The Unshakable to the shakeable

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There is a hypothesis that states that, with age, the ability to change decreases. We see examples of this in our daily interactions with people of various ages often manifested as ideologies and thought processes. It is much easier to accept the status quo than to challenge existing beliefs and to adopt newer ways. The ‘Lindy Effect’ also emphasises on how if something has been around for longer, it inevitably develops a resistance to change. Hence, it is so incredibly difficult to rationalise with older people about the rut of patterns that they have so conveniently adopted without much thought.

Adding to this, even when people make up their minds to change, there is some comfort in sticking to what you are used to and subconsciously swaying away from any kind of modification. Unlearning well ingrained beliefs takes magnitudes of internal effort coupled with a strong rationale to lever a motivation towards change. Just like trauma can be apparent over generations, so can beliefs. We learn what we have been fed since we were children, be it through media or simply by internalising the beliefs of our family as our own. We go through our entire childhood believing that our opinions about various topics are our own, fully convinced that we have autonomy over thoughts, feelings and actions, when in reality we are just a culmination, an image of those around us. There have been researches that study the transfer of beliefs over generations. Research conducted in the year 2015 at the University of Central Oklahoma emphasises on the importance of the family of procreation on the ideologies of an individual in relation to traditions. The findings state that family influence plays a large role in transmission of religion. (Brandon K. Burr, 2015, p. 193)

Another integral force in shaping our beliefs is our exposure to the content on social media. Once again, what we are fed through media is what shapes a major part of our being. We opine how others do and believe in what others believe. However, there are some beliefs so inherently implanted that even exposure to hard spitting facts, remains unable to rattle them. These are primarily the ones we have inherited from our parents and primary caregivers at a very young age. Most commonly, these beliefs span over the heavy themes of religion, sexuality and what is considered right and wrong i.e., the norms of society. With time, some people remain absolutely repugnant to change, whereas the others, with gradual exposure to the right form of content, are open to being malleable.

This reminds me of how exposure therapy is used to help individuals face their fears. Only when you successfully convince an individual that what they have been afraid of all their life isn’t really doing them any harm, can they let go of the “irrationality” behind every instance of fear. Similarly, social media propels across raw facts and figures along with a rationale of how some deep-rooted beliefs have no actual merit. Then why is it that some individuals are more open to change and that some resist it even in the face of contradictory information? I believe that the age of an individual plays an important role in shaping their beliefs. While there has been much research on age and its impact on innumerable factors, seldom have researches taken into account the impact of age in shaping the ideologies and beliefs of individuals.

Research conducted by psychologists Michael W. Pratt, Bruce Hunsberger and S. Mark Pancer of Wilfrid Laurier University in December 1992 found lower scores on a standard of integrative complexity when it comes to everyday reasoning for older people than for younger people. This means that older people are less capable of taking into account various perspectives while thinking and forming opinions. (Pratt, 1992, p. 518). This research could explain why older people have more fixed and unshakable ideologies despite exposure to social media. Social media exposes us to one of the most accepting communities, be it acceptance towards the LQBTQIA+ community or even acceptance of the normality of various everyday struggles.

Exposure to such positivity on social media inevitably compels people to question beliefs that go against it. By and large youngsters are the chunk of individuals who are more open to challenging current thought systems, they are more open to imbibing various perspectives and points of view. Thus, the once unshakable beliefs ingrained in them since childhood, now seem at last shakable, and for the better. Social media is bringing about a ‘New Age Renaissance’ and gripping us, forcing us to trace back the reasoning that stands behind various thoughts. However, the middle aged population as a whole, still seems wary of this and refuses to challenge existing notions. There is an active wall put up that is acting as a barrier at every step of the way. Some individuals fail to find merit in arguments whereas the others simply choose to ignore it because they are too accustomed to their way of thinking and after all “I’m too old to change now”.

Social media, though a powerful tool for change at the moment, has succeeded in impacting only one major age group. Detrimental mindsets in the others are still very prevalent and fixed despite constant exposure to social media and spirited debates with others of different beliefs. Perhaps not all unshakable thought processes can be challenged with such ease.

 

 References

Brandon K. Burr, J. B. (2015). Generation to Generation: Passing on Religious and Spiritual Beliefs and Practices. Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging, 27(2-3), 193. doi:10.1080/15528030.2015.1007544

Michael W. Pratt, B. H. (1992). Reflections on Religion: Aging, Belief, Orthodoxy, and Interpersonal Conflict in the Complexity of Adult Thinking about Religious Issues. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 31(4), 518. doi:10.2307/1386860


About The Author

Meherzeen Siganporia

Head of Department, Psychology Column

The author, Meherzeen Siganporia is a 19-year-old student of Psychology who is passionate about photography, reading, and writing. She absolutely loves cycling to the beach and is always down for anything impulsive and adventurous. If having deep, intellectual conversations is your thing, she is your go-to girl.

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