Stephen: Every generation thinks people used to be nicer
Written by Stephen Lethbridge on June 20, 2023
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It’s common to hear adults talk about the good old days… but is morality really declining over time? A study published in Nature argues that the idea that people are getting meaner over time is just an illusion. According to decades of surveys, people generally say they are treated with respect every day. The answer to this question does not appear to change over time, even when those surveyed say that people were kinder in the past. Researchers hypothesize that being exposed to negative news about society could be influencing this perception. Nostalgia could also be at play: We may be remembering the past with rose-colored glasses.
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