Fewer Americans drew hope from the knowledge of scientists and experts (19%), recreation or fun they had (17%), new opportunities (14%), their work (13%), or research they’ve done themselves (10%). One in 20 say none of these (5%) or they’re not sure (5%).
Around 1 in 14 U.S. adults (7%) say they haven’t had any source of hope during the problems they’ve faced in 2020.
Americans who struggle to find hope are more likely to be those with a high school diploma or less (8%) and the religiously unaffiliated (12%). Only 1% of Americans with evangelical beliefs say they had no hope in 2020 compared to 8% of those without such beliefs. Among Christians, those who attend worship services four times a month or more (2%) are less likely than those who attend less than once a month (7%) to have faced last year without hope.
Americans Want Freedom and Safety
When asked what they desire most in life, Americans are more likely to choose personal freedom (36%) than a desire to overcome (32%) or a desire for respect (24%), while 8% aren’t sure. In 2016, Lifeway Research found 40% of Americans had a desire for personal freedom, 28% a desire to overcome and 31% a desire for respect.
“The events of 2020 led some to reevaluate their priorities, with fewer desiring respect. But most responded from what was already a priority for them,” said McConnell. “Resistance to social distancing mandates was likely motivated by the desire for personal freedom. Speaking up about racial injustice was likely motivated by the desire to overcome power differences in society.”
Men (39%) are more likely than women (33%) to say they desire personal freedom most of all. College graduates (44%) are also more likely than those with a high school diploma or less (32%) to point to freedom as their top desire.
Younger adults are more likely to say they want to overcome, and older adults are more likely to want respect. African Americans (39%) and Hispanics (40%) are more likely than whites (28%) to say they most desire to overcome.
U.S. adults are almost twice as likely to say the outcome they value most is obtaining security and safety (45%) compared to reaching their potential (25%) or bringing honor to my family and friends (24%).
Women (48%), along with adults 50-64 (51%) and those 65 and older (55%) are among those who most value safety. Younger adults (18-34) are the most likely to say their primary value is reaching their potential (39%).
Right and Wrongdoing
While Americans overwhelmingly say they get the most satisfaction from doing the right thing, they’d much rather eliminate anxiety from their lives than wrongdoing.
Around 4 in 5 adults (79%) say it would bring them the most satisfaction to know they had done the right thing, compared to their political party being in power (7%) or obtaining social recognition or status (7%).
When asked what they would remove completely from their life if they could, however, Americans pick anxiety (46%) over wrongdoing (34%) and humiliation (11%).
U.S. adults are also most likely to say someone suffering unfairly (60%) angers them the most compared to someone breaking the law (29%) or someone embarrassing their community (5%).
“When Americans approach life so differently, it’s not surprising that we frequently misunderstand each other,” said McConnell.
This article on freedom and safety originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
