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Conservative people: these 7 traits define them

Conservative people: these 7 traits define them

February 29, 2024

The conservative people are those who, in short, assume that until proven otherwise, the tradition dictates what are the rules to follow in a society. However, neither his interpretation of reality goes through such literal statements, nor does this idea serve to detect conservatism where it lives, something useful to know the way of being of individuals and groups.

In this article we will focus on the characteristics of conservative people .

  • Related article: "The philosophical theory of Edmund Burke"

The beliefs and traits of conservative people

Each country and culture harbors a different kind of conservatism, so it is important to keep in mind that conservative people are attending to several nuances.


However, there are a number of typical characteristics that are usually a good indicator of whether traditions have relevance to someone. Let's see them

1. Essentialist view of things

Conservative people tend to believe in essences, that is, in the idea that all things, animals, landscapes and people have an immaterial element that gives them identity.

From this perspective, it is not necessary to argue why certain things should continue to exist as they did so far, since to bet on the opposite option would be to go against the essences. This is usually reflected in the way they use language and, specifically, to his appeals to what is "natural" and "unnatural" , expressions that mean nothing beyond expressing opposition to a reform or recent alteration of something (examples: laws in favor of same-sex marriage, appearance of new technologies, etc.).


  • Related article: "The 4 types of ideology that exist, and the values ​​they defend"

2. Emphasis on the nuclear family model

For sociological reasons, in countries with a Western tradition, conservative people defend a model of coexistence based on the nuclear family, that is, one composed of husband, wife and sons and daughters. The reason is that, from this way of seeing things, it is the most balanced way of transmit the culture that must be inherited by future generations , although there is no evidence that this is the case.

3. Defense of gender roles

Another feature of conservative people is that they oppose any measure that promotes gender equality from a collectivist perspective, that is, from institutions and associations. The reason is, in part, the essentialism that we saw in the previous point, and in part the rejection of the possibility of their customs being questioned.


Thus, it is assumed that women have a role in managing family resources , as well as of breeding and reproduction, while man must have the material and financial power of the family.

On the other hand, homophobia is common among conservative people, going from extremes in which people are assaulted for their sexuality, to the defense that homosexuals should not be assaulted but should have fewer rights (adoption, kissing). public, etc.).

  • Maybe you're interested: "How to stop being homophobic and accept the difference"

4. Respect for the ancestors

The respect to the ancestors in what vertebra the concept of town or nation that contributes good part of the identity to the conservative people. This means that is born with certain responsibilities and obligations not with the rest of our fellow citizens, but also with those who have long since died but are connected to us by family ties.

5. Association between morality and religion

Conservative people, even those who are not practicing religious, defend the idea that the morality of society emanates from religion and that it is good that this is so. That means that it is assumed that believers in other religions or atheists do not have the same ability to discriminate between good and evil.

  • Maybe you're interested: "Types of religion (and their differences in beliefs and ideas)"

6. Nationalism

Nationalism is the idea that there is an unbreakable union between a people and a specific territory, and that everything that attempts against this union must be combated. This, which is also a consequence of the typically conservative essentialism, makes everything that is considered "foreign" only tolerated to certain limits by the simple fact of being one, on the one hand, and to try to suppress the customs of minorities belonging to cultures that historically have lived within the limits of what is considered "a single nation".

7. Defense of willpower

In conservatism, it is very common to assume that things occur due to the presence or absence of willpower, whether individual or collective.Therefore, the interpretation of reality responds more to what is believed to be legitimate than to what is believed that, put into practice, it can work, since it is assumed that if enough people want something, that will inevitably happen. .

It is an idea that appears at attribute human characteristics to society , as if intentions and desires were in themselves what makes social phenomena advance.


Liberal vs Conservative: 24 Hours Side By Side (February 2024).


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