Declinism: is the world actually getting worse? | Pete Etchells

A recent survey suggests that 71% of people think that the world is going to the dogs. Are things actually that bad, or is it a psychological trick of the mind?Let’s face it, 2015 hasn’t been the most positive of years so far. But is the world really going down the pan? Radio 4’s The Human Zoo kicked off a new series this week, taking a looking at declinism – the idea that we’re predisposed to looking favourably on the past, and worry that the future is going to be dire. In a survey ru