Old people really ARE more racist (but it’s not for the reason you think)

When an older person makes a racist comment, many of us wince and think to ourselves, ‘It’s because they grew up in a very different time.’

But the reason old people tend to be more prejudiced could actually be down to their own insecurities – and to anxiety about death.

Psychiatrists believe that older people become more insecure as they age – and make themselves feel ‘safe’ using prejudices against different groups.

The fear of death may also make older people cling to their sense of identity – which can bring out prejudices against other groups, psychologists told Business Insider.

Dr Steve Taylor, a psychologist at Leeds Beckett University told Business Insider, ‘The theory is when you think of death it creates a fear, and one way of reacting to that anxiety is to cling to identity, to try and gain a sense of belonging, or even a sense of protection.’

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Recent research linked older white voters in America to climate change denial – and racial prejudice.

Researchers found that American voters with the highest levels of racial resentment were far more likely to dispute the idea of man-made climate change.

Researcher Salil Benegal at DePauw University analysed data from American National Election Studies – and found that Republicans with high racial resentment scores were 84% likely to disagree with man-made climate change.

The scores were measured on likelihood of agreeing with sentiments such as, ‘If Blacks would only try harder, they could be just as well off as whites.’

White Republicans with high scores for racial resentment were three times as likely to disagree with a statement that climate change was real than White Republicans with lower racism scores.