Morality In America

A week ago I came across the just released results of an interesting poll conducted by CNN delving into the same behaviors as a poll conducted by Time Magazine in 1987.  It tackles several behaviors falling under the general category of morality.  The survey shows an interesting shift in American attitudes in the nearly 3 decades since the Time Magazine poll.

In the 1987 Time Magazine poll, 7 out of the 8 listed behaviors were considered by the majority of Americans to be morally wrong.  In 2014, only 3 of the behaviors are thought to be morally wrong by the majority of those surveyed.

Public opinion has changed most drastically on the topics of marijuana and homosexuality.  Interestingly, the top 2 behaviors considered morally wrong in 1987 are the same 2 that top today's list—being married and having sex with someone else, and cheating on your taxes.

In the 1987 Time Magazine poll, the 8 issues considered (listed with the same wording used on the poll) and the percentage of those surveyed who believed the described action to be morally wrong are:

     Being married and having sex with someone else       92%

     Cheating on your taxes                                             86%

     Engaging in homosexual behavior                              82%

     Smoking marijuana                                                   70%

     Having an abortion                                                   62%

     Looking at a pornographic magazine                         58%

     Living with someone when you're not married           54%

     Drinking alcoholic beverages                                    38%

In the 2014 CNN poll, the 8 issues considered and the percentage of those surveyed who believed the described action to be morally wrong are:

     Being married and having sex with someone else       93%

     Cheating on your taxes                                             90%

     Having an abortion                                                   57%

     Engaging in homosexual behavior                              50%

     Looking at a pornographic magazine                         46%

     Smoking marijuana                                                   35%

     Living with someone when you're not married           32%

     Drinking alcoholic beverages                                    16%

The CNN poll was conducted via telephone interviews January 3-5, 2014.  The article I read did not mention the criteria for selecting those interviewed for the poll.