Older Americans’ Moral Attitudes Changing
Gallup’s 2013 Values and Beliefs poll examines views on the morality of a number of social issues among different age groups in the U.S. (those 18–34, 35–54, and ≥55 years of age). Three of these issues are relevant for animal protection: cloning animals; buying and wearing clothes made of animal fur; and medical testing on animals. The percentage of the population that finds these issues morally acceptable is presented for each age group along with longitudinal data on animal experimentation dating back to 2001.
[Abstract excerpted from original source.]
“Americans across the age spectrum are in broad agreement on the morality of a variety of societal issues, and older Americans’ views on several once taboo matters related to sexuality — such as premarital sex and gay relations — have significantly evolved. Nevertheless, young adults are far more accepting of two such matters — pornography and sexual relations — than older adults, possibly signifying an eventual cultural shift on these.
These data are from Gallup’s 2013 Values and Beliefs poll, conducted May 2-7. Gallup has tracked Americans’ views on the moral acceptability of 12 issues annually since 2001 and several others annually since 2002 or later. This is the first year the poll has measured public views on sex between teens.”