Mapping Britain's moral values
This survey of moral values in Britain today was done for Nestle's Family Monitor, and published in March 2000
This survey examined what adults - those aged 15 and over - see as their own moral values. It examined particular age groups with distinctive profiles:
- The very young; 15-24
- The oldest group; 55+
- Those aged between 25 and 34
It says that the 25-34 age group is distinct from the others, and it calls them 'the G-kids'. People in this group reached maturity during a time of rapid social change: Glasnost, Globalization and Green awareness.
There are three main strands to the results of the survey:
- A consensus about moral values
- A significant group (about 20% of the total) which the survey calls the 'morally marginalized'
- A pattern of differences which is age-related
(1) The consensus
Most of us think that honesty is the most important moral value. Our ethics are - we say - shaped by the golden rule, 'do to others what you wish they would do to you.'
Most of us have seen some positive changes in our lifetimes:
- more opportunities for women and minorities
- more concern for the environment
But we have also seen some negative changes:
- loss of respect for those in authority (the Royal family, the police, the Church)
- less sexual faithfulness
- loss honesty in work and business
The survey says that people today 'strongly believe that we should be a tolerant and equitable society'.
In the past people's moral values clustered along political left/right, liberal/conservative lines - that is, if someone had conservative values in one area, they were likely to have conservative values in other areas too; if they had liberal values in one area, they were likely to be liberal about most things. But today, there is a consensus that is liberal/left about some values, but at the same time conservative/right about others
(2) The 'morally marginalized'
There is a significant group whose moral values are different from the consensus. This group makes up about 20% of the total. They are likely to be relativistic about morals. This group is larger among younger people (see below under 'age-related differences'). Someone in this group is less likely to be a church attender, though not necessarily less likely to be a believer.
(3) Age-related differences
There are some significant differences over moral values according to how old people are. For example, the youngest are most concerned for tolerance. They are likely to have the philosophy 'always do what you want as long as you don't hurt anyone'. They are likely to be ambivalent about honesty.
The 'morally marginalized' are found among people of all ages, but they are a larger proportion of the younger age groups.
Under 25s formed 15% of the total sample, but 31% of the morally marginalized
Over 55s formed 31% of the total sample, but only 11% of the morally marginalized.
The survey concludes:
But the age pattern may mean that the 'morally marginalized' are a growing trend.