Why don't people bluff more?

It seems like many players, especially at lower levels, never even consider it.

It's like they would rather lose with a "good" hand then get caught bluffing.

That same person may think everyone they play against also doesn't bluff and therefore that makes them bluff-able.

Maybe it seems anti-social or unethical in some way to them.

Like they would rather win with the luck of the cards than "outplay" someone.

They are not looking for a competitive game, but rather a social game, and a social game is "honest."

By the same token, what is the mindset of the rarer player who is willing to take more risks and more swings, willing to apply more pressure, and be the aggressor?

Even a smart TAG looks for spots to pick up pots with aggression and position stabs.

It's always amazing to me that most people play so ABC because there are some clear spots to bluff with little risk and most people don't even consider it because they are so focused on just their cards.

I would think after a certain period of time they would graduate past level one just my cards poker and use their experience to their advantage.

There is definitely psychology involved but it's more down to the nature of how people tend to play poker.

We tend to play aggressive in a polarised way. It's very easy to identify the hands on one side of the spectrum (the nuts) but trying to find hands to bluff can sometimes be difficult.

The psychology aspect of it is most likely to be fear. When we make a bet and we have the goods, there is little to be afraid of. Conversely when we are bluffing we fear losing (getting caught).

Too easy: fear of getting caught in a lie.

Three reasons:

1. Fear of looking foolish/sheepish if the bluff fails.

2. They would rather bust due to misfortune and/or bad luck than due to a failed play they could have avoided. It’s easier to accept that something beyond your control took you out rather than you doing something that caused you to lose. It’s an internal locus of control vs external locus thing.

3. The vast majority of people are naturally risk averse. So even if they study proper bluff spots at home, pulling the trigger during a game where the risk is real suddenly becomes much more difficult and unlikely. With practice and occasional success with bluffing, it becomes easier because the history of pulling off a successful bluff makes them feel more comfortable doing so as it feels like it’s less of a risk.

Not sure where you are playing or with who or what limit, but it sounds more like a description of the game decades ago, where a "check, call, draw" passive attitude prevailed in recreational players. It's about 10 times more aggressive nowadays from what I see. There are far, far fewer loose/weak players now.