I've found that it's common belief, especially among older people that age directly contributes to insight. Most people seem to believe that a 22 year old could be no more experienced in a subject than a 40 year old. I completely disagree with this view. This is how I feel about the subject.
Age is not directly related to insight but rather is a constant along which insight increases as a result of environmental factors which contribute to the level of exposure, which directly affects the rate at which insight increases.
First, the definitions of exposure and insight in this context should be defined. Dictionary.com defines exposure as:
“a laying open or subjecting to the action or influence of something: ex. Exposure to the measles; The exposure of his theories to ridicule destroyed his self-confidence.”
The website defines insight as:
“an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing, especially through intuitive understanding: an insight into 18th-century life.”
One of my friends lived in Japan for at least three years as a child, over the course of those years her Japanese ability improved very little, yet Japanese children of her age were already known to be perfectly capable in verbal communication. These children, as most children in the world, weren't taught to speak their native language in school. They learned from their environment; Japanese television, Japanese people, their own parents. By having so many different sources of input they increased their level of exposure. While my friend, growing up with American parents, her father being a Marine, needed to know very little Japanese. They only needed to know enough to buy groceries and maybe read traffic signs. Despite living in the same environment in the same duration as the other children, she learned very little Japanese. This is due to her lack of exposure in the language. Most kids didn't talk to her or come out to play with her, her parents spoke very little Japanese and had no interest in learning, and TV alone did very little without any context behind it.
The next example is a personal one. When I was a child, at around age six I got a Sony PlayStation 2 and a copy of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2. I also received a steering wheel and pedals as well. Well aware of it being an arcade game, I still accustomed myself to using the new control interface. I made a lot of mistakes (hit a lot of walls and smashed a lot of cars off the road) but after a few months I was doing pretty well. After a few years I had no problem using the steering wheel and pedals. I frequently played arcade games in malls and movie theaters with a similar setup as well.
Now a decade later, when practicing driving it came very natural to me. The mistakes I made in games forced me to increase my situational awareness and understand how the steering wheel, gas pedal, and brake affect the motion of the car when used together. I was able to do maneuvers that are known to be complicated for beginners with relative ease. With less than a year of experience I've been told that I'm a better driver than my parents, who have been driving for over three decades.
Why is it that some people are able to seemingly master abilities in a quarter of the time of others? There are people who have become fluent in languages in less than a year, while others of similar age and backgrounds struggle for much longer. The simple answer is to say these people are smart, that they're just born good at what they do.
The real answer is exposure. The more exposure you have to an experience, the more mistakes you make, which increases your insight.
There is some truth to age affecting insight. If one were to picture age as a straight line, exposure would (presumably) gradually increase along age (time), allowing insight to increase with it. However; If one were to curve upward the rate of exposure within their environment over a shorter period of time, they would be forced to make more frequent mistakes and gain insight from their mistakes. Their insight would have no choice but to curve upwards as well.
Insight and exposure and can be curved upwards over a shorter period of time. It's a well known idea in business that if you want to come to success quicker, you double your failure rate. This same idea doesn't just apply to business. It can be applied to anything, whether it be learning to pilot vehicles, learning a new language, or learning a sport. This idea is frequently applied in the military and medical fields as well with the use of simulators.
There are other factors that should be considered such as intelligence. One has to be intelligent enough to understand how and why they failed, and intelligent enough to correct it. Talent is also another factor to be considered. I believe talent can be gained if you are able to get past your fear of failure and the unknown. Physical capability is also a major factor, but as technology continues to progress it may be possible to rectify physical impediments. For the physically capable of us however, we shouldn't use the excuse that we're too old (or too young) and I feel that we should not assert greater competence over another due to age. Once the brain has fully matured, it is an equal playing field for all of us.
So using a steering wheel for Need for speed helped you learn to drive.
I didn't really get your talk about insight and exposure, but I can speak/understand English just as well as my English teacher, just because when I was a kid I sat on a sofa watching American cartoons most of my day (and also thanks to Facepunch). That also meant I was obese for most of my childhood, receiving tons of ridicule, but hey I can speak English. :v:
Of course age itself doesn't increase "insight", it about isn't the number, your health, the color of your hair or how many wrinkles you have, it's the experience in life that goes along with being on this earth for that amount of time.
I'm pretty sure this is widely known.
how do you describe the direct +1 increase to Int, Wis, and Char scores when you reach 35 years of age??
I don't get the point
Is this because people think you're dumber than a 40-year-old
[editline]16th June 2011[/editline]
I mean jegus you're 22 according to your profile [B]of course you disagree with it[/B].
Not saying that's like saying there's a teen who doesn't think they know everything they need to ever know.
[editline]16th June 2011[/editline]
I'm apparently having major problems with writing
So to have a higher chance of succeeding at stuff, you take risks and learn what went right/wrong.
Btw that was a nice read ;D
As a kid you will be stupid and childish and in your teens your hormones will make you act stupid and childish.
I've learned important life lessons from 3-year olds in the past, I shit you not.
[QUOTE=Levithan;30493645]how do you describe the direct +1 increase to Int, Wis, and Char scores when you reach 35 years of age??[/QUOTE]
I like how spot and listen are wisdom based.
But on topic: age has a very small effect on insight in my opinion.
[QUOTE=Falchion;30494727]As a kid you will be stupid and childish and in your teens your hormones will make you act stupid and childish.[/QUOTE]
Yes, but that doesn't mean everyone acts like that.
In simpler terms: do the action more often, you learn more. Old people had more time to practice things, and so, have learned more.
Experience is overvalued these days. Experience is risky and takes time. A priori teachings are better.
Also, age does influence your thought patterns. Children focus more on learning (both physical and intellectual things), teenagers focus on rising on the social rank and learning. Young adults want to rise on the social rank, to be the alpha male/female and to procreate, whiel adults want to defend their territory and raise their children.
Evolutionary biology kicks ass.
[QUOTE=Janizaurd;30493537](and also thanks to Facepunch)[/QUOTE]
Facepunch taught you English.
[QUOTE=Janizaurd;30493537]I didn't really get your talk about insight but exposure, but I can speak/understand English just as well as my English teacher, just because when I was a kid I sat on a sofa watching American cartoons most of my day (and also thanks to Facepunch). That also meant I was obese for most of my childhood, receiving tons of ridicule, but hey I can speak English. :v:[/QUOTE]
Same thing here - my childhood went in watching Discovery, Cartoon Network and playing video games. All of this helped me tremendously and I could speak fluent English by the time I was 13-14.
Most old people are fucking dumb.
[QUOTE=JumJum;30499765]Yes, but that doesn't mean everyone acts like that.[/QUOTE]
This.
[QUOTE=JumJum;30499765]Yes, but that doesn't mean everyone acts like that.[/QUOTE]
Nope. That's just cheating yourself.
[QUOTE=Janizaurd;30493537]I didn't really get your talk about insight but exposure, but I can speak/understand English just as well as my English teacher, just because when I was a kid I sat on a sofa watching American cartoons most of my day (and also thanks to Facepunch). That also meant I was obese for most of my childhood, receiving tons of ridicule, but hey I can speak English. :v:[/QUOTE]
Yes, but only in very long run-on sentences.
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