&gt; &quot;Older people have a lot more experience in observing human nature&quot; is not necessarily always true. Or at least it may not be the reason for their conservativism.<p>Older people have a lot more experience observing <i>politics and government</i>, and as such have seen the consequences of historical campaign promises and highly-touted government agendas. If these consequences are negative and they have been given reason to believe that the government and its politicians are either liars or just not competent to deliver, that may explain their conservatism.