Not being wholly familiar with the issue, isnt the difficulty that b has an influence on a? One of my friends had a couple of not fulfilling careers, then went and received a teaching certificate. Went from being a staunch conservative to a BH liberal in a pretty short time frame. Merely a product of their surroundings or finding a true mission in life?
Immersion therapy. Most people will adapt to their surroundings.
I think Vrai gets it right. The pressure to "go lib" was overwhelming when I took up mental health counseling as a second career. Signed up to help myself and other vets (especially the PTSD aspect), but wasn't prepared for the "in for a penny, in for a pound" aspect. Meaning, I was expected to adopt the rest of the lib BS worldview that seems to accompany (actually, thoroughly permutates) these type professions (i.e., education, counseling/social work, etc.).
These folks honestly believe they're helping (and many do help), but it was amazing watching how for many helping was actually secondary to self-validation and ideological promulgation. Ironic in a profession where one of the foundation principles is that the client gets to exercise autonomy. Often seemed quite the opposite (especially for issues relating to men and masculinity).
--- End of line (MCP)