Social trends in American life : findings from the General Social Survey since 1972 / edited by Peter V. Marsden.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction and overview / Peter V. Marsden -- On the seemingly relentless progress in Americans' support for free expression, 1972-2006 / James A. Davis -- The real record on racial attitudes / Lawrence D. Bobo [and others] -- Gender role attitudes since 1972 : are southerners distinctive? / Karen E. Campbell and Peter V. Marsden -- Public opinion in the "age of Reagan" : political trends 1972-2006 / Jeff Manza, Jennifer A. Heerwig, and Brian J. McCabe -- Crime, punishment, and social disorder : crime rates and trends in public opinion over more than three decades / James D. Wright, Jana L. Jasinski, and Drew Noble Lanier -- Trends in confidence in institutions, 1973-2006 / Tom W. Smith -- Continuity and change in American religion, 1972-2008 / Mark Chaves and Shawna Anderson -- Trends in informal social participation, 1974-2008 / Peter V. Marsden and Sameer B. Srivastava -- Income, age, and happiness in America / Glenn Firebaugh and Laura Tach -- Religion and happiness / Michael Hout and Andrew Greeley -- Labor force insecurity and U.S. work attitudes, 1970s-2006 / Arne L. Kalleberg and Peter V. Marsden -- Population trends in verbal intelligence in the United States / Duane F. Alwin and Julianna Pacheco -- Appendix : the General Social Survey Project / Peter V. Marsden and Tom W. Smith.