Attitudes and Perceptions

Abstract

Earlier chapters have described the personal situations of the respondents in various areas, including work and retirement, health, income, and social relationships. The attitudes of the respondents toward their particular circumstances were examined as well as their experiences within these areas. This chapter expands the discussion to include attitudes toward themselves, their lives in general, and the political arena. In both 1964 and 1974 the men were asked to reflect on their general life situations. In 1974 they also responded to a variety of questions measuring their sense of satisfaction with their lives, their feelings of self-esteem and anomie, and their attitudes toward political affairs and intervention by the government on behalf of its citizens.