The Ability to Think for Oneself Is Losing Importance

Perhaps it is a sign of the times, but thinking for oneself is not as important as it used to be. The percentage of Americans who believe "thinking for himself or herself" is the most important thing a child should learn to prepare for life has fallen—and the decline has been especially steep since 2006.

Thinking for himself/herself is the most important thing a child should learn
2016: 41%
2006: 47%
1996: 51%
1986: 51%

Despite the decline, thinking for oneself is still the most important thing a child should learn according to the plurality of Americans. In second place is "learning to work hard," cited as most important by 27 percent of the public in 2016, more than double the 11 percent who felt this way in 1986. Third in importance is "learning to help others" (19 percent), followed by "learning to obey" (12 percent), and in last place "learning to be popular" (0.6 percent).

Source: Demo Memo analysis of the General Social Survey