{"id":14199,"date":"2014-07-09T15:40:07","date_gmt":"2014-07-09T20:40:07","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-04-18T12:21:22","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T16:21:22","slug":"the-politics-of-american-generations-how-age-affects-attitudes-and-voting-behavior","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2014\/07\/09\/the-politics-of-american-generations-how-age-affects-attitudes-and-voting-behavior\/","title":{"rendered":"The politics of American generations: How age affects attitudes and voting behavior"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Our approach to generational analysis has evolved to incorporate new considerations. Learn more about how we currently report on generations<\/a>, and read tips for consuming generations research<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"typology_age\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n

The notion that age and political ideology are related goes back at least to French monarchist statesman Fran\u00e7ois\u00a0Guizot<\/a>, who\u00a0originated the oft-mangled quotation, “Not to be a republican at 20 is proof of want of heart; to be one at 30 is proof of want of head.” But data from the Pew Research Center’s new political typology report<\/a> indicate that, while different age cohorts do have markedly different profiles, the relationship is considerably more complex than young=liberal and old=conservative.<\/p>\n\n

The report, based on a survey of more than 10,000 Americans, finds that among the oldest Americans (those ages 65 and up), nearly\u00a0two-thirds are at opposite ends of the typology. 32%\u00a0fall into the two strongest Republican-oriented groups (what we call Steadfast Conservatives and Business Conservatives) and 33% are either Solid Liberals or Faith and Family Left, the two strongest Democratic-aligned groups. (Steadfast and Business Conservatives are separated mainly by the latter’s more Wall Street orientation, while the Faith and Family Left tend to be more conservative on social issues than Solid Liberals.)<\/p>\n\n

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Looking at the youngest American adults, those ages 18 to 29, nearly one-in-five are what we call Young Outsiders — GOP leaners who favor limited government but are\u00a0socially liberal. Almost exactly the same percentage\u00a0are what we’ve termed the Next Generation Left, who tilt more to the Democrats but are wary of social-welfare programs. And many (17%) are Bystanders — not registered to vote, don’t follow politics and generally the least politically engaged. That’s the biggest share among all age brackets, though perhaps not entirely surprising.<\/p>\n\n

Who are the political typology groups?<\/div>