A Flawed Global Survey of Morals

A recent Pew Research survey of moral and ethical views in 25 countries garnered many headlines about the US being the only country surveyed where people indicated that the majority of their compatriots (53%) had bad morals or ethics. An unsettling result for Americans; but because of the poll’s lack of clarity, it is impossible to determine what this really indicates.  (https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/03/05/in-25-country-survey-americans-especially-likely-to-view-fellow-citizens-as-morally-bad).

The problem stems primarily from the initial survey question: How would you rate the morality and ethics of your fellow countrymen (very good, somewhat good, somewhat bad or very bad)?  The wording does not make clear, for example, whether respondents thought the majority of their fellow Americans actually behave in a morally bad way or merely have an intellectually skewed view of morality? 

Nor is any attempt made to establish for respondents a common understanding of the notion of morality upon which to base their responses.  Everybody was on their own.   There was no reference to the core component of morality, which has to do with how we treat others.  In its essence it is about adherence to the golden rule, fairness in dealing with others, integrity and truth, kindness and help to those in need, avoidance of deceit and abuse of others, responsibility to oneself, one’s family, one’s society.   If some such common understanding had been established, it would clarify what the responses meant. 

With such a common understanding, indicating compatriots are morally bad would mean that it’s a dog eat dog world in their country, where self-interest and might makes right. But for that result, the question posed should have been more like, How would you rate the claim that your compatriots treat you and others with fairness, dignity, and in accord with the golden rule (very true, somewhat true, somewhat false, very false).  Pew Research acknowledges that they had not previously asked the first question on this survey.  It would be wise of them not to ask it again without revisions.

The survey compounds its lack of clarity with its second question in which respondents were asked, Do you personally believe each of the following [9 items] is morally acceptable, morally unacceptable, or not a moral issue: having an affair while married, homosexuality, having an abortion, gambling, using contraceptives, viewing pornography, using marijuana, drinking alcohol, getting a divorce.  Did the survey mean to indicate to respondents that the moral dimension is solely or primarily defined by a series of such controversial behaviors?  We do not know for sure but of course this possibility could have influenced respondents to the first survey question, causing them to judge their fellow citizens negatively because they think they hold different views on controversial behaviors. 

This list of controversial behaviors does not directly or clearly get at the core of morality.  What, for example, does using contraceptives have to do with the golden rule and refraining from abusing others? 

If so, that would again be a far cry from saying that their fellow citizens cannot be trusted to behave decently or morally in their dealings with others.  This list of controversial behaviors does not directly or clearly get at the core of morality.  What, for example, does using contraceptives have to do with the golden rule and refraining from abusing others? 

It should also be noted that the second question specifically asks about personal beliefs.  It is quite possible that a respondent could think having an abortion or drinking alcohol is something that they personally do not consider right for themselves to do, but do not take the position that this behavior would render others morally bad or that their view should be imposed on others.  The thoughts of former Supreme Court Justice Kennedy are very apt in this context.  When commenting recently about whether he regrets his vote in 1992 not to overturn the 1973 Roe v Wade decision permitting abortion, he said that as a Catholic he did not approve of abortion, but a women’s right to liberty in such a private matter needed to be legally upheld.  Getting others to share his own views on abortion would be a matter of persuasion, not a law forbidding it (https://www.npr.org/2025/10/14/nx-s1-5570830/justice-anthony-kennedy-talks-about-his-new-book-abortion-and-changing-his-mind).

Furthermore, drinking alcohol, gambling, and using marijuana would not in themselves constitute a moral issue.  Morality comes into the picture if the drinking, gambling, and use or marijuana are excessive, damaging a person’s capacity to contribute responsibly to society or putting at risk the persons who depend on them. 

What do we learn from the survey?

Having an affair while married was the behavior that received the highest rate of morally unacceptable across the 25 countries, the average of the median percent responses in each country being 77% morally unacceptable.  In the US, the rate was even higher at 90%.  Of the 9 behaviors, this one probably raises moral issues most directly since it generally involves mistreatment of others through deceit and disloyalty.  The second highest behavior rated morally unacceptable, using marijuana, came in at 52%, 25% lower than the rate for having an affair.  As for US respondents, 90% said having an affair was morally unacceptable. 

The depth of the division indicates that as a society, we are in trouble.  This post is not the context in which to argue for solutions; but clearly, if we hope to maintain a functioning democracy, it is incumbent on politicians and religious leaders to help us all regain empathy for each other and focus on commonalities and the common good.

As for the second question of the survey regarding controversial behaviors, I bullet below some of the findings that seem worth noting.

• Having an affair while married was the behavior that received the highest rate of morally unacceptable across the 25 countries, the average of the median percent responses in each country being 77% morally unacceptable.  In the US, the rate was even higher at 90%.  Of the 9 behaviors, this one probably raises moral issues most directly since it generally involves mistreatment of others through deceit and disloyalty.  The second highest behavior rated morally unacceptable, using marijuana, came in at 52%, 25% lower than the rate for having an affair.  As for US respondents, 90% said having an affair was morally unacceptable. 
• The only other behavior with more than 50% morally unacceptable responses in the US was viewing pornography (52%).  Another behavior that potentially raises core moral concern: exploitation of women.  In most countries surveyed, the percent of women saying it is morally acceptable ran significantly above the percent of men.
• With the exception of the having an affair behavior, the average of each country’s median percent of responses indicating that the 8 other behaviors were not a moral issue ran from 21% to 32%.  And, indeed, just because there is disagreement about certain behaviors or it is said to be a moral issue even by a particular religion does not necessarily or strictly make it a moral issue.  If one of the behaviors had been abusing others or defrauding them, we would expect virtually no one to respond that it is not a moral issue or indicate that it is morally acceptable.  
• The effect of religious beliefs in responses was complex.  In 17 of the 25 countries, over 50% indicated belief in God was not necessary to be moral and have good values.  In many of these countries, the percentage was much higher.  Among US respondents, 68% so indicated.  Responses of morally unacceptable to behaviors like drinking alcohol, divorce, gambling, and homosexuality were sometimes prompted by one’s religion, particularly in countries with major populations of Muslims or Hindus.   Abortion responses were, of course, also influenced by religion.  Although overall 52% of US respondents considered abortion morally acceptable or not a moral issue, 59% of those identifying as Christian indicated it is morally unacceptable.  [For my post on how Republican operatives in the 70s and 80s convinced Evangelicals to adopt the Catholic position on abortion for political purposes, see https://michaelnill.com/abortion-victim-of-political-warfare/.]  In the survey, though, views of Christians on abortion differed widely by country.   The average of median responses in each of the 25 countries country was 32% morally unacceptable, 30% morally acceptable, and 21% not a moral issue (the remaining 17% didn’t answer, didn’t know, or volunteered that it depended on the situation). 

To conclude, then, this survey of morals and ethics could be significantly improved; but it did yield some useful information despite the flaws.  Unfortunately, however, and unfortunately so, the survey in its structure and results highlights the notion that the moral dimension primarily just consists of behaviors marked by controversy and societal divisions.