The 1960s and 70s are often remembered as free-spirited and rebellious, but many everyday behaviors from that era would be illegal or deeply controversial today. Looking back reveals how quickly social norms change once we understand the psychological, health, and ethical consequences of what we once accepted as normal.
The 1960s and 70s are often remembered as decades of freedom, rebellion, and experimentation.
They were loud, expressive, and full of cultural shifts that still influence how we live today.
But they were also surprisingly casual about things we now see as dangerous, unethical, or flat-out unacceptable.
Looking back isn’t about moral superiority, it’s about noticing how quickly norms change once we understand the consequences of our choices.
When you zoom out, it becomes a lesson in psychology more than history.
What we tolerate says less about right and wrong, and more about what we’ve collectively agreed not to question yet.
Here are seven everyday practices from that era that would never make it past today’s laws or social standards.
1) Smoking everywhere
It’s hard to overstate how normal smoking once was. Cigarettes weren’t just common, they were embedded into the physical design of public spaces.
You could smoke on airplanes, in offices, in restaurants, and in hospital waiting rooms. Ashtrays were built into desks and armrests, and nobody thought twice about lighting up indoors.
What’s striking is that the issue wasn’t just people choosing to smoke. It was everyone else being forced to participate whether they wanted to or not.
Secondhand smoke wasn’t widely discussed, and the idea that it could seriously harm others hadn’t yet entered the mainstream conversation. If you didn’t like it, that was your problem.
Today, smoking indoors in most public places is illegal, and socially it’s often frowned upon even outdoors.
The shift feels obvious now, but at the time it required a complete reframing of what personal choice actually means.
This is a great example of how cultural blindness works. When a behavior is everywhere, it fades into the background and stops registering as harmful.
2) Corporal punishment in schools
There was a time when physical punishment in schools wasn’t controversial. It was policy.
Teachers openly hit students with paddles, rulers, or straps as a form of discipline. Parents often supported it, believing it built character and respect.
What we now understand about child psychology tells a very different story. Fear may produce compliance, but it also produces anxiety, shame, and long-term stress responses.
Most schools today ban corporal punishment outright, and where it still exists, it’s heavily criticized. The idea of striking a child in the name of education now feels deeply unsettling.
What’s uncomfortable is realizing how confident adults once were that this was the right approach.
Authority plus tradition created a shield that protected the practice from scrutiny.
It’s a reminder that just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s healthy, especially when the people affected have no voice.
3) Drinking and driving as a social norm
In the 60s and early 70s, drunk driving wasn’t treated as a serious crime. It was often brushed off as bad judgment or even a funny story.
Movies played it for laughs, and police responses were inconsistent at best.
In some cases, officers would simply follow a driver home to make sure they got there safely.
The idea that you should not drive after drinking simply hadn’t solidified yet. Alcohol and cars coexisted with little friction.
Today, this behavior is both illegal and socially condemned. DUI laws are strict, and public awareness campaigns have made the risks impossible to ignore.
What changed wasn’t just legislation. It was perception.
Once society collectively agreed that drunk driving wasn’t normal or funny, behavior shifted.
Social pressure turned out to be just as powerful as legal consequences.
4) Casual prescribing of powerful drugs
The pharmaceutical culture of the 60s and 70s was shockingly relaxed by today’s standards.
Doctors regularly prescribed amphetamines, tranquilizers, and sedatives with minimal oversight.
Stimulants were given to boost productivity. Sedatives were handed out to help people cope with stress or boredom.
There was enormous trust in medical authority, and very little emphasis on informed consent.
Patients rarely questioned prescriptions, and doctors rarely explained long-term risks.
Today, that level of casual prescribing would raise serious red flags. We now require clinical trials, disclosures, and ongoing monitoring for good reason.
From a decision-making perspective, this shows how power imbalances work. When one side holds all the knowledge, the other side is unlikely to push back.
It also shows how good intentions can still lead to harm when systems lack accountability.
5) Workplace behavior with no boundaries
Office culture in the 60s and 70s operated under rules that would be unacceptable today.
Sexual harassment laws were minimal or nonexistent, and power dynamics were largely ignored.
Unwanted comments, inappropriate touching, and relationships between bosses and employees were often dismissed as normal office life.
Complaints, if they were voiced at all, were rarely taken seriously.
Today, much of that behavior would result in immediate disciplinary action or legal consequences.
The shift didn’t happen overnight, but it happened once language caught up to experience.
Once people had words for harassment and coercion, they could finally name what felt wrong. And once something is named, it becomes much harder to ignore.
Psychologically, this matters because naming a problem is often the first step toward dismantling it.
6) Children roaming freely without supervision
Many people feel nostalgic about how free childhood once was. In the 60s and 70s, kids often left the house in the morning and came back at dinner.
They played far from home, rode public transportation alone, and sometimes hitchhiked. Parents trusted that things would work out.
Today, that level of freedom would likely trigger concern or even legal consequences.
Parents can now be accused of negligence for situations that were once routine.
Our perception of risk has shifted dramatically. We are far more aware of worst-case scenarios, and that awareness shapes how we parent.
There’s an ongoing debate about whether we’ve become too cautious. But regardless of where you land, the contrast between eras is undeniable.
It shows how fear and safety evolve alongside information, media, and cultural narratives.
7) Advertising that openly manipulated or lied
Advertising in the 60s and 70s played fast and loose with the truth. Cigarettes were marketed as healthy, and sugary foods were framed as essential to a balanced diet.
Gender stereotypes were blatant, and emotional manipulation was unapologetic. Regulations were limited, and accountability was rare.
Today, advertising laws are stricter, and consumers are more skeptical. Companies are still persuasive, but outright false claims are more likely to be challenged.
What really changed was media literacy. People slowly learned how persuasion works and how easily emotions can be exploited.
Once you understand framing and repetition, you don’t consume messages the same way. That awareness has forced brands to evolve, even if reluctantly.
The bottom line
Looking back at the 60s and 70s isn’t about shaming the past. It’s about understanding how flexible our sense of normal really is.
What feels obvious today once required decades of debate, research, and resistance. And what feels acceptable now may one day be questioned just as intensely.
The real takeaway is simple. Staying curious and willing to reexamine our assumptions is one of the most practical skills we can develop.
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