American Values Shift on Moral Acceptability in Recent Survey

In recent times, Americans have shown less acceptance toward some controversial issues, with significant declines observed over the past year. The most pronounced decreases in approval concern birth control, having a baby outside of marriage, gambling, teenage sex, and animal cloning. This trend indicates a shift back from liberalization seen over the years.

Significant Declines in Moral Acceptance

Five out of twenty behaviors measured showed notable reductions in moral acceptability compared to the previous year. These behaviors saw declines ranging between six to nine percentage points. Birth control, once relatively stable, now has an approval rate of 83 percent, marking a historic low. Gambling’s approval fell from 63 percent to 57 percent, similarly hitting a record low. Animal cloning approval declined to 27 percent from 34 percent. Having a baby outside marriage dropped to 58 percent, equalling the level from 2014 and down by nine points compared to last year. Approval for teenage sex fell from 41 percent to 35 percent. Collectively, these shifts signal a broader cooling of public acceptance following years of gradual liberalization.

What Do Americans Accept?

The survey found continued broad acceptance of several behaviors among Americans, despite declines in some areas. Large majorities still find birth control and divorce (74 percent) morally acceptable. There is also solid support for sex between unmarried adults (65 percent) and gay or lesbian relationships (62 percent). Other commonly accepted behaviors include medical research using embryonic stem cells (59 percent), purchasing clothing made from animal fur (57 percent), and gambling (57 percent). Just over half of respondents, 52 percent, view the death penalty as morally acceptable. This aligns with the fact that the number of executions in the U.S. last year nearly doubled compared to the previous year, rising to 47 from 25.

However, a number of issues reveal more divided opinions. Abortion remains highly contested, with 49 percent viewing it as morally acceptable and 41 percent considering it morally wrong. Similarly divided are opinions on doctor-assisted suicide, or euthanasia (49 percent acceptable, 45 percent wrong), and medical testing on animals (45 percent acceptable, 48 percent wrong). Gender transition sees only 38 percent of Americans considering it morally acceptable. At the extreme end, behaviors such as extramarital affairs are accepted by only 7 percent, rendering it the most morally offensive. Cloning humans garners just 9 percent acceptability, with polygamy slightly higher at 19 percent.

Overall Ratings Across 20 Behaviors

The Gallup survey, which tracks twenty different behaviors, presents a clear range of moral judgments. Political affiliations prominently influence these attitudes, particularly splitting Democrats and Republicans on issues like identity, sexuality, and medical autonomy. Democrats are generally more accepting of such issues while Republicans show more acceptance of punitive measures, like the death penalty.

Partisan Divides

Democrats more frequently view abortion, gender transition, and gay or lesbian relationships as morally acceptable compared to Republicans, with discrepancies reaching as high as 55 percentage points on issues like abortion (73 percent of Democrats vs. 18 percent of Republicans). Close parallels appear around gender transition (60 percent vs. 5 percent) and gay relationships (81 percent vs. 35 percent). Republicans generally lean more towards accepting punitive measures, with a notable gap on the death penalty, supported by 76 percent of Republicans and only 33 percent of Democrats. Lesser disparities are seen in areas like clothing made from animal fur and medical testing on animals.

Despite stark differences, agreement exists on certain behaviors. Both groups widely reject extramarital affairs (3 percent of Republicans vs. 8 percent of Democrats), human cloning (4 percent vs. 7 percent), and polygamy (7 percent vs. 17 percent), where moral rejection is nearly universal despite minor partisan variations.