In this Book

buy this book Buy This Book in Print
summary

Changes in American social attitudes and behaviors since the 1970s

Social Trends in American Life assembles a team of leading researchers to provide unparalleled insight into how American social attitudes and behaviors have changed since the 1970s. Drawing on the General Social Survey—a social science project that has tracked demographic and attitudinal trends in the United States since 1972—it offers a window into diverse facets of American life, from intergroup relations to political views and orientations, social affiliations, and perceived well-being.

Among the book's many important findings are the greater willingness of ordinary Americans to accord rights of free expression to unpopular groups, to endorse formal racial equality, and to accept nontraditional roles for women in the workplace, politics, and the family. Some, but not all, signs indicate that political conservatism has grown, while a few suggest that Republicans and Democrats are more polarized. Some forms of social connectedness such as neighboring have declined, as has confidence in government, while participation in organized religion has softened. Despite rising standards of living, American happiness levels have changed little, though financial and employment insecurity has risen over three decades.

Social Trends in American Life provides an invaluable perspective on how Americans view their lives and their society, and on how these views have changed over the last two generations.

Table of Contents

restricted access Download Full Book
  1. Cover
  2. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Title Page, Copyright
  2. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Contents
  2. pp. vii-viii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Preface and Acknowledgments
  2. pp. ix-xii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Contributors
  2. pp. xiii-xiv
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 1. Introduction and Overview
  2. Peter V. Marsden
  3. pp. 1-16
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Trends in Social and Political Orientations
  1. 2. On the Seemingly Relentless Progress in Americans' Support for Free Expression, 1972– 2006
  2. James A. Davis
  3. pp. 19-37
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 3. The Real Record on Racial Attitudes
  2. Lawrence D. Bobo, Camille Z. Charles, Maria Krysan, Alicia D. Simmons
  3. pp. 38-83
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 4. Gender Role Attitudes since 1972: Are Southerners Distinctive?
  2. Karen E. Campbell, Peter V. Marsden
  3. pp. 84-116
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 5. Public Opinion in the "Age of Reagan": Political Trends 1972– 2006
  2. Jeff Manza, Jennifer A. Heerwig, Brian J. McCabe
  3. pp. 117-145
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 6. Crime, Punishment, and Social Disorder: Crime Rates and Trends in Public Opinion over More Than Three Decades
  2. James D. Wright, Jana L. Jasinski, Drew Noble Lanier
  3. pp. 146-174
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Changes in Confidence and Connections
  1. 7. Trends in Confidence in Institutions, 1973–2006
  2. Tom W. Smith
  3. pp. 177-211
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 8. Continuity and Change in American Religion, 1972–2008
  2. Mark Chaves, Shawna Anderson
  3. pp. 212-239
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 9. Trends in Informal Social Participation, 1974–2008
  2. Peter V. Marsden, Sameer B. Srivastava
  3. pp. 240-264
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Stability and Flux in Social Indicators
  1. 10. Income, Age, and Happiness in America
  2. Glenn Firebaugh, Laura Tach
  3. pp. 267-287
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 11. Religion and Happiness
  2. Michael Hout, Andrew Greeley
  3. pp. 288-314
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 12. Labor Force Insecurity and U.S. Work Attitudes, 1970s–2006
  2. Arne L. Kalleberg, Peter V. Marsden
  3. pp. 315-337
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 13. Population Trends in Verbal Intelligence in the United States
  2. Duane F. Alwin, Julianna Pacheco
  3. pp. 338-368
  4. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Appendix: The General Social Survey Project
  2. pp. 369-378
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Index
  2. pp. 379-386
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
Back To Top

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.