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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 1970's. 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.

Social surveys --- Public opinion --- United States --- Social conditions. --- American South. --- American adults. --- American life. --- American public. --- First Amendment. --- General Social Survey. --- Protestants. --- Republicans. --- Southerners. --- U.S. society. --- adult intelligence. --- behavior. --- blacks. --- conservatism. --- conservatives. --- crime rates. --- education. --- egalitarianism. --- employee well-being. --- equal treatment. --- family income. --- female roles. --- free expression. --- gender roles. --- government programs. --- happiness levels. --- happiness. --- informal social connectedness. --- institutional confidence. --- interpersonal networks. --- job satisfaction. --- job security. --- labor force participation. --- liberals. --- moderates. --- national spending. --- nonconformity. --- organized religion. --- political attitude. --- political conservatism. --- precarious employment. --- public opinion. --- public trust. --- punishment. --- quality of life. --- race. --- racial attitudes. --- racial equality. --- religion. --- religious affiliation. --- religious diversity. --- religious organizations. --- religious rituals. --- social attitudes. --- social networks. --- social order. --- social trends. --- socializing. --- sociopolitical attitudes. --- test performance. --- tolerance. --- unemployment. --- verbal knowledge. --- vocabulary test. --- white Americans.