As national leaders continue to wage war after war and people wage ideological battles on X (formerly Twitter), a new pew research center Research pulls back the curtain on America’s changing moral foundations. On March 19, 2026, the center released a research report titled “What do Americans think is immoral?” Rather than focusing on universal taboos such as theft and murder, two surveys conducted in 2025 asked about the morality of 15 socially controversial behaviors, from the death penalty to viewing pornography. The answers reveal a deeply tolerant yet deeply divided country.
Join forces to combat cheating
In a rare moment of national consensus, Americans discovered a unique villain: extramarital affairs. Nine out of 10 American adults claim it is morally wrong for married people to have affairs. Of the 15 parameters by which American morality is assessed, cheating remains the only thing that is unanimously condemned across the country, taking into account other factors including the death penalty, spanking, smoking marijuana, gambling, etc.
Partisan Divides: Two Different Americas
Another shocking insight from the study is the moral divide between Republicans and Democrats in the country. Among Republicans, abortion (71%), homosexuality (59%), viewing pornography (65%) and divorce (33%) are morally wrong. Democrats, however, view morality through a social justice lens, saying being extremely wealthy (29%), spanking children (35%), and the death penalty (48%) are morally wrong. Viewing pornography (52%), abortion (47%), homosexuality (39%) and divorce (23%) were seen as morally wrong in the survey, echoing a larger consensus among political leaders and showing how ideals at the top filter down to the bottom. Under the Trump administration, more people appear to be taking the red pill than the blue pill.
crisis of confidence
While political rhetoric suggests a “golden age,” America’s internal social fabric appears to be frayed. Surveys show that Americans view each other with suspicion, distrusting and judging their fellow citizens. Only 47% of Americans think other Americans have good morals, while a whopping 53% think their fellow Americans’ morals and ethics are “somewhat or very bad.” This makes the United States a global outlier; among nearly every other country surveyed in 2025, citizens were more likely to view their fellow citizens as inherently good.
American men need to wake up
The study also exposed friction points between the sexes, particularly around family and reproductive issues.Divorce (28%), abortion (51%) and pregnancy using in vitro fertilization (11%) are more likely to be viewed as morally wrong by men than by women. About 43% of men also believe homosexuality is morally wrong. However, in their view, gambling, drinking, and watching pornography are morally correct. In contrast, women have a tougher stance on viewing porn, with 58% of women saying it is morally wrong compared to 47% of men. At the moment, America seems to be not just “becoming more liberal” or “moving to the right,” but it seems to be fragmenting into segments hidden under the guise of stratified Republican unity.
, a new Pew Research C.){kind=link}