Which values rise with age?

Security, Benevolence, Tradition, and Conformity tend to increase with age in most longitudinal samples. Stability, family, and continuity weigh more as time horizons shorten.

Which values fall with age?

Stimulation, Self-Direction, and Achievement tend to moderate with age — though not always. People who built lives around novelty or autonomy often keep them; the decline is a population average, not a personal verdict.

What major life events cause values shifts?

Parenthood typically increases Security and Benevolence. Economic shocks increase Security. Major migration or cross-cultural exposure often increases Universalism. Long-term illness can shift the entire profile toward Conservation values.

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Do Values Change Over Time? What the Longitudinal Research Says

|May 27, 2026|7 min

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