Article Summary:
A recent Pew Research Center survey reveals that the United States is the only country among 25 polled where a majority of residents view their fellow citizens as morally or ethically “bad.” Fifty-three percent of American adults hold this negative view, contrasting sharply with other nations like Canada, where 92 percent see their compatriots as good.
Experts attribute this phenomenon to several factors. Political polarization plays a significant role, with 60 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of Republicans viewing fellow Americans negatively. This partisan divide has intensified over time—a 2022 Pew poll showed substantial increases in Americans describing opposing party members as immoral, dishonest, and close-minded compared to 2016.
Scholars suggest that nearly every moral issue has become politicized in America, with political leaders and social media amplifying divisions. Christian author Karen Swallow Prior notes that antagonistic political parties demonize each other, lowering perceptions of collective goodness. Additionally, America’s religious diversity has historically prevented agreement on shared moral standards, allowing morality to be weaponized politically.
Sociologist Scott Schieman observes that Americans exhibit a stronger “negativity bias” than Canadians, who tend to direct criticism toward elites rather than fellow citizens. Scholar Victoria Barnett argues that intense political polarization, especially when framed through religious teaching, erodes trust across society.
Historical Gallup polling confirms Americans have consistently rated the nation’s moral values negatively since 2003, suggesting this pessimistic outlook isn’t entirely new but has deepened amid current political contradictions.