Social trends in American life : findings from the General Social Survey since 1972 / edited by Peter V. Marsden.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction and overview / Peter V. Marsden -- On the seemingly relentless progress in Americans' support for free expression, 1972-2006 / James A. Davis -- The real record on racial attitudes / Lawrence D. Bobo [and others] -- Gender role attitudes since 1972 : are Southerners distinctive? / Karen E. Campbell and Peter V. Marsden -- Public opinion in the "age of Reagan" : political trends 1972-2006 / Jeff Manza, Jennifer A. Heerwig, and Brian J. McCabe -- Crime, punishment, and social disorder : crime rates and trends in public opinion over more than three decades / James D. Wright, Jana L. Jasinski, and Drew Noble Lanier -- Trends in confidence in institutions, 1973-2006 / Tom W. Smith -- Continuity and change in American religion, 1972-2008 / Mark Chaves and Shawna Anderson -- Trends in informal social participation, 1974-2008 / Peter V. Marsden and Sameer B. Srivastava -- Income, age, and happiness in America / Glenn Firebaugh and Laura Tach -- Religion and happiness / Michael Hout and Andrew Greeley -- Labor force insecurity and U.S. work attitudes, 1970s-2006 / Arne L. Kalleberg and Peter V. Marsden -- Population trends in verbal intelligence in the United States / Duane F. Alwin and Julianna Pacheco -- Appendix : the General Social Survey Project / Peter V. Marsden and Tom W. Smith.

"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"--Publisher description.