Groundbreaking National Study Reveals “The Civility Paradox”: Americans Say They are Civil; Society Is Increasingly Uncivil

New research of 3,000 U.S. adults uncovers alarming disconnect between personal values and societal perception, with two-thirds reporting negative mental health impacts from incivility

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A landmark national study released today reveals a striking paradox regarding civility in America: while individuals overwhelmingly see themselves as civil and respectful, only 26% believe society itself feels civil. The research, sponsored by IW Group, reports that half of Americans believe civility has declined in just the past 12 months and that incivility significantly affects the nation’s mental health and social fabric.

“The Civility Paradox,” a survey of 3,000 U.S. adults conducted May 22 to June 2, 2025, found that 53% of Americans describe society as uncivil compared to 26% who say society is civil. Respondents were more than twice as likely to call it “extremely uncivil” (18%) as “extremely civil” (7%). The research comprehensively examines how civility is defined, learned and practiced across America’s diverse communities.

“We're witnessing a crisis of civility coupled with a deep distrust of others,” said Bill Imada, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer of IW Group, a multicultural and multigenerational communications agency. “The result is great collective suffering, with deep divisions about both the experience of civility today and the solutions that could restore it. Ultimately, we hope groups from different political, generational, geographic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds will come together to talk about how differently they see and experience our society and create a blueprint to realize people’s hopes for a more civil future.”

The mental health toll

The study shows incivility has become a mental health issue, with 67% of Americans reporting negative mental health impacts from uncivil behavior in the past year. Nearly one in four (24%) reports experiencing these impacts weekly or more frequently, with certain demographics saying they experience negative impacts from incivility on their mental health weekly or more frequently (Gen Z, 33%; White respondents, 27%; liberal respondents, 27%, and LGBTQ+ respondents, 40%). Black and Asian American communities reported greater resilience, with 43% and 44%, respectively, reporting no adverse mental health effects from incivility in the past year.

“The findings highlight what we see in workplaces every day: uncivil behavior undermines both mental health and organizational performance,” said Haruka Kokaze, M.A., Workplace Mental Health Research Associate and Lead Japan Strategy Analyst at One Mind. “Leaders have an opportunity and responsibility to foster cultures of respect and psychological safety that enable people to flourish, innovate, and contribute fully. These outcomes are essential for America’s long-term well-being.”

Americans encounter incivility with alarming frequency, reporting weekly or daily incidents of incivility both online (34%) and in person (33%). Silence has become a default, with 57% of Americans saying they've held back honest opinions in the past year to avoid conflict, and 35% of respondents saying they don’t feel safe sharing their honest opinion on social media. Only 33% said they would intervene if they saw something harmful online.

Digital aggression and political polarization

When asked what drives society's decline in civility, respondents in 2,355 open-ended responses pointed to two primary causes: digital aggression through social media (28%) and political polarization (21%). The erosion of basic kindness (17%) and the media's role in amplifying outrage (13%) also emerged as significant factors.

The research identifies a sharp divide between those seen as “uniters” and “dividers” in society. Teachers and educators top the list of uniters (54%), followed by religious leaders (42%), sports coaches (40%), and community elders (39%). In contrast, federal government officials (59%), television news (55%), and social media influencers (50%) are viewed as the primary forces dividing Americans.

The “self vs. others” gap

The survey revealed significant differences between people’s views of their behaviors and capabilities regarding civility and their views of others. Respondents say they:

• Take responsibility for their actions (89%)
• Treat others with respect, even when they disagree (80%)
• Try to understand others’ perspectives before responding (77%)

At the same time, respondents say they don’t trust others:

• Only 30% said most people can be trusted
• Only 43% said they believe people are generally kind
• Only 50% say they believe most people try to do the right thing

“The third-person effect in this research—where people think they are civil, but others are not—is significant,” said Betsy Emmons, Ph.D., Associate Professor of advertising and public relations at the University of Nebraska. “It suggests that we need to help people recognize that most people aspire to be civil, despite our perceptions of others. These insights can spark important conversations.”

People’s perceptions of others are fueled by negative assumptions, with 90% saying people are quick to judge others, 86% saying people are more focused on winning arguments than understanding and 80% saying people are more self-centered than they used to be. Yet people report confidence in their own ability to be civil during disagreements, with 80% saying they are confident they can ask questions to clarify perspectives, 77% saying they can express their point of view clearly without putting others down, and 66% saying they handle conflict through collaboration or compromise.

A downward slope with glimmers of hope

The trend lines are sobering: 49% of Americans believe civility has declined in the past year, and 58% say it's gotten worse over the past five years. Looking ahead, only 9% expect improvement in the next year and nearly half expect a continued decline over the next decade. Despite this, 42% of Americans are hopeful that people will treat each other with more civility in the future.

The path forward: Individual action, institutional support

The study finds that 63% of Americans believe responsibility for civility starts with individuals, rather than institutions, communities, or leaders. The top actions people believe can make a difference include teaching children strong values at home (43%), speaking and listening more respectfully (37%), and practicing empathy even when disagreeing (30%).

However, the research also highlights the need for institutional support. Americans want schools to teach mutual respect regardless of identity (45%), communities to promote good citizenship (35%), and media to report facts without amplifying false claims (43%).

Deep divisions complicate solutions

The study reveals significant fault lines across political, generational, and racial groups. Conservatives and liberals disagree on a host of potential civility solutions, with the most significant differences emerging around what schools should teach and which individual actions could help. For example, while 37% of respondents said leaders needed to set a better example for people to treat each other better, 49% of liberals said that was true, while just 26% of conservatives agreed. Generational gaps are equally stark, with 60% of Boomers seeing the decline in civility in the past year compared to just 43% of Gen Z. At the same time, Boomers and Gen X were more likely to say that civility was an individual responsibility (71% and 70%, respectively) than Gen Z (48%).

About The Civility Paradox

“The Civility Paradox” surveyed 3,000 U.S. adults aged 18-75 from May 22 to June 2, 2025, via a national representation online panel with Census-balanced demographics. The research was sponsored by IW Group, in partnership with Orangefiery, Two Cents, Prodege, and Edwin Wong, General Manager, Research. The study used a mixed-mode research approach that included a comprehensive survey examining how civility is defined, learned, and practiced across diverse American communities, with findings reported at a 95% confidence level.

About IW Group

IW Group is an advertising, marketing, and communications agency focusing on the growing multicultural and multigenerational markets. Founded by Bill Imada, who serves as Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer, IW Group has assisted corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations navigate cultural shifts and connect authentically with diverse communities through strategic communications, branding, experiential marketing, and civic engagement.