Study finds universal belief in declining morals throughout history.
A new study suggests that the perception of moral decline is an illusion caused by rose-tinted memories of the past and a focus on the negative news of the present. Researchers found that people across the world have continuously believed that morality is declining, but this perception is not supported by historical surveys. The study warns that this illusion of moral decline could have troubling consequences, such as increasing the appeal of leaders who promise to halt that illusory slide.