Portrait of a Generation

How do Baby Boomers perceive themselves and their times? How do their perceptions differ from those of earlier generations? To find out, TIME commissioned a poll by Yankelovich, Clancy, Shulman of 1,007 Americans 18 years and older, plus an additional sample of 514 Americans between the ages of 30 and 40.* Some of the more significant results:

Were the '60s and '70s good or bad?

All things considered, 61% of those ages 30 to 40 said the changes that occurred during the 1960s and 1970s were more constructive for people their age, while 31% said the changes were more destructive. How they and other generations rated two of the most revolutionary changes:

Changes in the role of women:

18-29 30-40 41 & older Total

Mostly good 84% 82% 66% 75%

Mostly bad 11% 13% 20% 16%

Changes in attitude toward sexual conduct:

Mostly good 50% 41% 25% 36%

Mostly bad 44% 51% 60% 53%

More conservative, but still

fighting the Establishment

Sixty-four percent of the Baby Boomers ages 30 to 40 said they have become more conservative in their political views, while 27% said they have become less conservative. Although 34% smoked marijuana "regularly" or "sometimes" in the past, only 11% do now. But if anything, it appears that the Baby Boomers have become less trusting of authority and big institutions since the 1960s and early '70s.

More trusting of Government: 40%

Less trusting of Government: 55%

More confidence in Big Business: 33%

Less confidence in Big Business: 64%

Assuming new responsibilities

Eighty-nine percent of 30- to 40-year-old Boomers feel they have become "more responsible members of society." Forty-three percent believe they have compromised their true beliefs. Most ascribed their changes to homelife: 74% said that "assuming new family responsibilities" was a very important factor in changing their beliefs and values.

Better or worse off than their parents?

Of the 30- to 40-year-olds, 63% said that in general they are better off economically than their parents, while only 28% said they are worse off. Questioned on specifics, they painted a more negative picture:

( The cost of housing: 18-29 30-40 41 & older Total

Better off 27% 22% 41% 33%

Worse off 66% 70% 45% 56%

The cost of living:

Better off 39% 38% 50% 44%

Worse off 53% 53% 38% 46%

The ability to get by without two wage earners in the family:

Better off 35% 29% 40% 36%

Worse off 53% 61% 41% 49%

Most important, 68% of Baby Boomers said they place more emphasis than did their parents on doing interesting things in their lives. Asked whether they have more freedom to do what they want, they were overwhelmingly positive:

18-29 30-40 41 & older Total

Better off 81% 77% 68% 74%

Worse off 10% 11% 13% 12%

*The survey was conducted by telephone April 15 to 17. The potential sampling error is plus or minus 3% for the entire population, and plus or minus 4% for the 758 individuals between 30 and 40 years of age who were interviewed.