Intolerance over time : macro and micro level questions on attitudes towards euthanasia, homosexuality and ethnic minorities

Abstract

The Netherlands, as many other Western countries, has experienced large shifts in intolerance in only a few decades. Aggregate opinions on euthanasia and homosexuality have become more accommodating over time, whereas the general opinion on the presence of ethnic minorities has become much more critical. This book describes observed trends and seeks explanations for the rapid socio-cultural changes in the Netherlands. Transformations in the composition of Dutch society, specific historical circumstances and personal contact experiences with homosexual men and women and with ethnic minorities are all evaluated as possible causes of changed intolerance levels. Furthermore, a validity study at the heart of this book investigates the use of retrospective attitude measurements in survey designs. This book addresses the changes observed in the Netherlands over time and within individuals over their life courses. Large-scale cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets are employed. Multi-level models are used to analyse cross-sectional changes, and growth curve models to analyse individual changes over time.