Poll: Generations less confrontational

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Today's parents and children may not see eye-to-eye on everything, but they are less in-your-face than previous generations, a Pew study indicates.

The Pew Research Center, in a survey released Wednesday, indicated two-thirds of Americans 16 and older see an age divide in all of eight areas.

Among the larger gaps:

-- Technology: 73 percent call tech use "very different."

-- Music: 69 percent say preferences are "very different."

-- Moral values: 80 percent said values either were "very" or "somewhat" different.

Surveyors said they found that while differences were clear, respondents indicated they didn't think the issues created much drama in their families or society overall. Just 26 percent of respondents indicated there are strong conflicts between generations.

Young and old respondents alike overwhelmingly agreed that older adults were superior to younger adults concerning moral values, work ethic and respect for others, the survey indicated. The lone exception was attitude toward people of difference races, where a plurality indicated younger adults have the upper hand.

"This survey suggests the generations have discovered they can disagree without being disagreeable," said Paul Taylor, director of Pew's Social and Demographic Trends Project.

The survey polled 1,815 people in July and August.