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Moral Issues

Current State of Moral Values in This Country/Moral Values Getting Better or Worse

Trend: Next, I’m going to read some aspects of life in America today. For each one, please say whether you are -- very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. How about the moral and ethical climate?

How would you rate the overall state of moral values in this country today -- as excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

Excellent

Good

Only
fair

Poor

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%
2011 May 5-8

3

20

38

38

1
2010 May 3-6

1

14

38

45

1

2009 May 7-10

2

15

37

45

1

2008 May 8-11

2

13

41

44

1

2007 May 10-13

1

16

39

44

1

2006 May 8-11

1

13

43

42

2

2005 May 2-5

2

17

40

39

2

2004 Nov 19-21

4

22

41

32

1

2004 May 2-4

1

18

40

40

1

2003 May 5-7

2

20

42

35

1

2002 May 6-9

1

17

41

40

1

Right now, do you think the state of moral values in the country as a whole is getting better or getting worse?

Getting better

Getting worse

Same
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%
2011 May 5-8

22

69

6

4
2010 May 3-6

14

76

7

4

2009 May 7-10

21

71

6

1

2008 May 8-11

11

81

6

3

2007 May 10-13

11

82

4

2

2006 May 8-11

11

81

6

3

2005 May 2-5

16

77

5

2

2004 Nov 19-21

27

64

7

2

2004 May 2-4

16

77

5

2

2003 May 5-7

24

67

7

2

2002 May 6-9

24

67

7

2

(vol.) = Volunteered response

Next, I'm going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about … [RANDOM ORDER]?

Abortion

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

39

51

7

*

3

2010 May 3-6

38

50

9

*

3

2009 May 7-10

36

56

6

*

1

2008 May 8-11

40

48

10

*

2

2007 May 10-13

40

51

7

*

1

2006 May 8-11

43

44

11

*

2

2005 May 2-5

40

51

8

--

1

2004 May 2-4

40

50

8

*

2

2003 May 5-7

37

53

9

*

1

2002 May 6-9

38

53

8

*

1

2001 May 10-14

42

45

11

1

1

* Less than 0.5%

(vol.) = Volunteered response

The death penalty

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

65

28

5

*

2

2010 May 3-6

65

26

7

--

2

2009 May 7-10

62

30

6

*

2

2008 May 8-11

62

30

5

*

3

2007 May 10-13

66

27

5

*

2

2006 May 8-11

71

22

5

*

2

2005 May 2-5

70

25

4

*

1

2004 May 2-4

65

28

4

1

2

2003 May 5-7

64

31

4

--

1

2002 May 6-9

65

28

5

*

2

2001 May 10-14

63

27

7

1

2

Doctor-assisted suicide

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

45

48

5

*

2

2010 May 3-6

46

46

6

*

2

2008 May 8-11

51

44

3

*

1

2007 May 10-13

49

44

5

--

2

2006 May 8-11

50

41

6

*

2

2005 May 2-5

49

46

4

*

1

2004 May 2-4

53

41

3

1

2

2003 May 5-7

45

49

5

--

1

2002 May 6-9

50

44

4

*

2

2001 May 10-14

49

40

8

*

3

Medical testing on animals

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

55

38

4

*

3

2010 May 3-6

59

34

4

1

2

2009 May 7-10

57

36

5

*

2

2008 May 8-11

56

38

3

*

3

2007 May 10-13

59

37

3

*

1

2006 May 8-11

61

32

5

*

2

2005 May 2-5

66

30

2

*

2

2004 May 2-4

62

32

4

*

2

2003 May 5-7

63

33

3

*

1

2002 May 6-9

63

30

3

1

3

2001 May 10-14

65

26

5

1

3

Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

56

39

3

1

2

2010 May 3-6

60

35

2

1

2

2009 May 7-10

61

35

1

1

1

2008 May 8-11

54

39

3

1

2

2007 May 10-13

58

38

2

1

2

2006 May 8-11

62

32

2

2

2

2005 May 2-5

64

32

2

1

1

2004 May 2-4

63

31

2

2

2

2003 May 5-7

60

36

2

1

1

2002 May 6-9

59

35

2

2

2

2001 May 10-14

60

32

2

3

3

* Less than 0.5%

(vol.) = Volunteered response

Sex between an unmarried man and woman

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

60

36

1

*

3

2010 May 3-6

59

38

1

1

1

2009 May 7-10

57

40

1

*

1

2008 May 8-11

61

36

1

1

1

2007 May 10-13

59

38

1

1

1

2006 May 8-11

59

37

2

1

1

2005 May 2-5

58

39

2

*

1

2004 May 2-4

60

36

1

1

2

2003 May 5-7

58

41

1

*

*

2002 May 6-9

53

42

2

*

3

2001 May 10-14

53

42

3

1

1

Married men and women having an affair

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

7

91

1

*

1

2010 May 3-6

6

92

1

*

1

2009 May 7-10

6

92

1

1

1

2008 May 8-11

7

91

1

*

1

2007 May 10-13

6

91

2

*

1

2006 May 8-11

4

93

2

*

1

2005 May 2-5

5

93

1

*

1

2004 May 2-4

7

91

1

*

1

2003 May 5-7

6

93

*

*

1

2002 May 6-9

9

87

1

1

2

2001 May 10-14

7

89

3

*

1

Divorce

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

69

23

7

*

1

2010 May 3-6

69

23

7

*

1

2009 May 7-10

62

30

6

*

1

2008 May 8-11

70

22

6

*

1

2007 May 10-13

65

26

8

*

1

2006 May 8-11

67

24

8

1

1

2005 May 2-5

66

27

6

*

1

2004 May 2-4

66

26

6

1

1

2003 May 5-7

66

27

6

*

1

2002 May 6-9

63

28

8

*

1

2001 May 10-14

59

28

12

*

1

* Less than 0.5%

(vol.) = Volunteered response

Cloning animals

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

32

62

2

1

3

2010 May 3-6

31

63

1

1

4

2009 May 7-10

34

63

1

1

2

2008 May 8-11

33

61

2

1

3

2007 May 10-13

36

59

2

1

3

2006 May 8-11

29

65

2

1

3

2005 May 2-5

35

61

1

*

3

2004 May 2-4

32

64

1

1

2

2003 May 5-7

29

68

1

*

2

2002 May 6-9

29

66

3

1

1

2001 May 10-14

31

63

2

1

3

Cloning humans

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

12

84

1

*

3

2010 May 3-6

9

88

*

1

3

2009 May 7-10

9

88

*

*

3

2008 May 8-11

11

85

1

*

2

2007 May 10-13

11

86

1

*

2

2006 May 8-11

8

88

1

*

3

2005 May 2-5

9

87

1

1

2

2004 May 2-4

9

88

1

*

2

2003 May 5-7

8

90

1

*

1

2002 May 6-9

7

90

2

*

1

2001 May 10-14

7

88

1

1

3

Suicide

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

15

80

2

*

2

2010 May 3-6

15

77

3

1

3

2009 May 7-10

15

80

2

1

2

2008 May 8-11

15

78

3

1

3

2007 May 10-13

16

78

3

1

2

2006 May 8-11

15

78

3

1

3

2005 May 2-5

13

82

3

*

2

2004 May 2-4

15

79

3

1

2

2003 May 5-7

14

81

2

1

2

2002 May 6-9

12

83

3

*

2

2001 May 10-14

13

78

6

1

2

* Less than 0.5%

(vol.) = Volunteered response

Medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

62

30

3

*

5

2010 May 3-6

59

32

3

*

6

2009 May 7-10

57

36

2

1

4

2008 May 8-11

62

30

3

*

5

2007 May 10-13

64

30

2

*

4

2006 May 8-11

61

30

3

*

6

2005 May 2-5

60

33

3

--

4

2004 May 2-4

54

37

3

*

6

2003 May 5-7

54

38

3

--

5

2002 May 6-9

52

39

2

1

6

Having a baby outside of marriage

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

54

41

2

*

2

2010 May 3-6

54

40

4

*

2

2009 May 7-10

51

45

3

1

1

2008 May 8-11

55

41

2

*

1

2007 May 10-13

54

42

2

1

1

2006 May 8-11

51

43

4

*

1

2005 May 2-5

54

43

2

*

1

2004 May 2-4

49

45

3

1

2

2003 May 5-7

51

46

2

*

1

2002 May 6-9

45

50

3

1

1

* Less than 0.5%

(vol.) = Volunteered response

Gambling

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)



No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

64

31

2

1

2

2010 May 3-6

61

34

3

1

1

2009 May 7-10

58

36

2

2

2

2008 May 8-11

63

32

2

1

2

2007 May 10-13

63

32

2

1

1

2006 May 8-11

60

34

2

2

1

2005 May 2-5

64

32

2

1

1

2004 May 2-4

66

30

1

2

1

2003 May 5-7

63

34

2

*

1

Polygamy, when one husband has more than one wife at the same time

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)



No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

11

86

1

*

1

2010 May 3-6

7

90

1

*

1

2009 May 7-10

7

91

1

1

1

2008 May 8-11

8

90

1

*

1

2007 May 10-13

8

90

1

*

*

2006 May 8-11

5

93

1

*

2

2005 May 2-5

6

92

1

*

1

2004 May 2-4

7

91

1

*

1

2003 May 5-7

7

92

1

--

*

Gay or lesbian relations

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)



No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 May 5-8

56

39

1

1

3

2010 May 3-6

52

43

1

*

4

2009 May 7-10

49

47

1

1

3

2008 May 8-11†

48

48

1

1

2

2007 May 10-13†

47

49

2

*

2

2006 May 8-11†

44

51

1

1

2

2005 May 2-5‡^

44

52

2

*

2

2004 May 2-4‡

42

54

1

1

2

2003 May 5-7‡

44

52

2

*

2

2002 May 6-9‡

38

55

2

1

4

2001 May 10-14‡

40

53

3

1

3

* Less than 0.5%

(vol.) = Volunteered response

^ Asked of a half sample

† WORDING: Homosexual relations

‡ WORDING: Homosexual behavior

Pornography

Morally
acceptable

Morally
wrong

Depends on
situation (vol.)

Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)



No
opinion

2011 May 5-8

30%

66

1

*

3

* Less than 0.5%

(vol.) = Volunteered response

Next, I'm going to read some aspects of life in America today. For each one, please say whether you are -- very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. How about -- ?

The moral and ethical climate

Very
satisfied

Somewhat
satisfied

Somewhat
dissatisfied

Very
dissatisfied

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2011 Jan 7-9

5

25

32

37

2

2008 Jan 4-6

6

33

32

27

2

2007 Jan 15-18

6

29

33

30

2

2006 Jan 9-12

5

28

34

32

2

2005 Jan 3-5

7

33

29

30

1

2004 Jan 12-15

5

30

36

28

1

2003 Jan 13-16

6

32

32

29

1

2002 Jan 7-9

9

38

28

24

1

2001 Jan 10-14

5

31

32

30

2

(Asked of those who say moral values are getting better) In what ways do you see moral values in the country getting better? [OPEN-ENDED]

BASED ON THOSE WHO SAY MORAL VALUES ARE GETTING BETTER

2010 May 3-6

%

Better understanding about other people and cultures/More diversity/Less racism

25

Americans are pulling together in tough times

25

People are more honest, responsible

9

Young people more involved, have better values

6

More religion/People turning to God

5

Economy is improving

5

Obama/Democrats improving the situation

4

Greater focus, priority on family

2

Parents more involved/Getting better at raising children

2

Other

5

Nothing in particular (vol.)

11

No opinion

7

(vol.) = Volunteered response

(Asked of those who say moral values are getting worse) In what ways do you see moral values in the country getting worse? [OPEN-ENDED]

BASED ON THOSE WHO SAY MORAL VALUES ARE GETTING WORSE

2010 May 3-6

%

Declining moral values, standards

15

Disrespect of others

15

Parents not instilling values in children/Not spending time with

8

Dishonesty among government, business leaders

8

Rising crime/violence

8

Moving away from religion/church/God

7

Breakdown of family/Unwed mothers

7

People not accountable/responsible for behavior

7

People don't care

6

TV content -- cursing, sex, etc.

5

Sex/Promiscuity/Pornography

5

Government policies

4

Everyone is out for themselves

4

Abortion

3

The media

3

Greed

3

Gay/Lesbian relations

3

Lack of jobs

2

Teen pregnancy

2

Drugs

2

Illegal immigration

1

Computers/The Internet

1

Way teens/youth dress

1

Other

3

Nothing in particular (vol.)

2

No opinion

3

(vol.) = Volunteered response
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