While the country’s leaders keep waging one war after another and people keep fighting over ideologies on X (formerly Twitter), a new Pew Research Center The study exposed the changing foundation of American morality. On March 19, 2026, the Center asked ‘What do Americans consider immoral?’ Released a research titled. Instead of focusing on the universal taboos of theft and murder, two surveys conducted in 2025 asked about the morality of 15 widely debated behaviors in society, ranging from the death penalty to viewing pornography. What the answers revealed was a nation that is deeply illiberal yet paradoxically divided.

united on fraud

In a rare moment of national consensus, Americans found a unique “villain”: having an extramarital affair. Nine out of ten American adults claimed that it is morally wrong for married people to have affairs. Of the 15 parameters used to evaluate America’s morality, fraud was the only thing the entire country agreed to condemn, considering other factors included the death penalty, beating children, marijuana use, gambling, and more.

Partisan divide: two different Americas

Another surprising insight into the research was the difference in morality between Republicans and Democrats in the country. In the Republican mindset, abortion (71%), homosexuality (59%), viewing pornography (65%), and getting divorced (33%) were morally wrong. However, Democrats viewed morality through the lens of social equality, rating the extremely wealthy (29%), beating children (35%), and the death penalty (48%) as morally wrong. In the survey, viewing pornography (52%), having an abortion (47%), homosexuality (39%), and getting divorced (23%) were considered morally wrong, reflecting a large consensus with the political leadership and showing how ideals at the top filter down to the bottom. Under the Trump administration, it appears the red pill was more widely taken than the blue pill.

crisis of confidence

Despite political rhetoric portraying a ‘Golden Age’, America’s internal social fabric appears to be coming apart. The survey revealed that Americans view each other with suspicion, distrust and are critical of their fellow citizens. Only 47% of Americans view other Americans as morally good, while 53% say the morality and ethics of their fellow Americans is “somewhat or very bad.” This makes the United States a global leader; In almost every other country surveyed in 2025, citizens were more likely to view their fellow residents as inherently good.

American men need an awakening

The research also highlights a friction point between the sexes, particularly around family and reproductive issues.Getting a divorce (28%), having an abortion (51%), and using in vitro fertilization to get pregnant (11%) were more likely to be considered morally wrong by men than women. About 43% of men also thought that homosexuality was morally wrong. However, according to him, gambling, drinking and watching pornography were morally correct. In contrast, 58% of women take a strong stance on viewing pornography, compared to 47% of men, calling it morally wrong. Currently, America is not only “becoming more liberal” or “moving to the right” but seems to be dividing into sections hidden under the guise of unity by a layered Republican fabric.