Book chapter
The development of tolerance among the young
2017Lundberg, E., & Abdelzadeh, A.In Lundberg, E. (Ed.), Mechanisms of tolerance: an anthology. Stockholm: The Living History Forum
What is this study about?
The study examines how tolerance develops during the adolescent years. By following young people over time, the extent to which tolerance is stable or changes as adolescents grow older is analysed. The focus is on adolescence as a formative period in which political and social values are still developing and can be influenced by new experiences and social contexts.
What did we find?
How stable is tolerance during the adolescent years? The results show that tolerance displays both continuity and change. Young people differ in their starting levels, but their tolerance can also develop over time. The study thus shows that tolerance should not be understood as a finished and unchanging trait, but as an orientation that can still be shaped during adolescence.
Why does it matter?
Tolerance is important in a democracy in which people with different opinions, identities and lifestyles need to be able to live together. If tolerance is still malleable during the adolescent years, this means that the experiences and social environments young people encounter during this period can matter for their democratic orientations. The study therefore contributes to the understanding of adolescence as an important period for the development of tolerance and other democratic values.
Citation
Lundberg, E., & Abdelzadeh, A. (2017) The development of tolerance among the young. In Lundberg, E. (Ed.), Mechanisms of tolerance: an anthology. Stockholm: The Living History Forum 119–144
Research area
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