20 Social Behaviors That Were Normal in the ’60s and ’70s

The social fabric of the 1960s and 1970s was characterized by norms that are strikingly different from those of the present day, largely due to major shifts in technology, safety standards, and public health awareness. Behaviors such as the ubiquitous acceptance of smoking in nearly all indoor public spaces and the use of hitchhiking as a common mode of travel highlight a vastly different set of public expectations regarding personal freedom, shared environments, and perceived risk. These decades also saw the persistence of strict formal etiquette in areas like dinner parties and air travel, contrasting sharply with the emerging counter-cultural movement that normalized casual drug use within specific youth circles, creating a deeply complex social landscape.

1. Smoking Everywhere

Cigarettes were ubiquitous, lighting up in nearly every public space without a second thought. People smoked freely on airplanes, in offices, restaurants, hospitals, and even in classrooms or the waiting rooms of doctors’ offices. The health risks were becoming known, but the social acceptance was still overwhelming, creating a constant haze in indoor environments. Ashtrays were standard fixtures on every desk and table, signaling a vastly different public attitude towards tobacco use than what exists today. It was a time when a quick smoke break was a normal part of nearly any social or professional gathering. This social norm highlights a dramatic shift in public health consciousness and personal freedom regarding air quality that has since occurred in Western societies.

2. Hitchhiking as a Common Mode of Travel

During the 1960s and 1970s, hitchhiking was seen as a relatively normal and accepted way for young people, especially, to travel cross-country or even just across town. It symbolized freedom, adventure, and a rejection of consumerism. Students, travelers, and drifters alike would stand on the side of the road with their thumbs out, expecting a ride from a stranger without much hesitation or fear. There was a sense of community and trust among travelers, making the practice much more common and socially acceptable than it is now. This practice relied heavily on a perceived sense of safety and a cultural expectation of helping fellow travelers, particularly during the counterculture movement.

3. Extensive Use of and Party Lines

The landline telephone was the sole method of immediate, remote communication, anchored to the home and shared by all family members. Answering the phone meant potentially talking to anyone, and privacy was minimal. Party lines, where two or more different households shared the same physical phone line, were also common in many areas, particularly rural ones. Users had to coordinate their calls, sometimes listening in to see if the line was free, which was occasionally used for eavesdropping. Family members often had to wait their turn to use the single household phone, typically mounted on a wall or placed in a central hallway. Long-distance calls were expensive and reserved for special occasions or emergencies, often involving operators. The lack of personal mobile devices meant that people were significantly less reachable when away from home, fostering a different expectation of immediate contact. This structure reinforced the home as the central hub of communication.

4. No Seatbelts or Car Seats for Children

Safety regulations in vehicles were far more lax than they are today. It was completely normal for children to ride unrestrained in cars. Kids would often stand on the floorboards, play in the rear window deck, or even sit on a parent’s lap in the front seat while the car was in motion. Car seats and booster seats were not mandatory, and the few early models available were more about containment than crash protection, often hooking over the seatback. The concept of mandated vehicle safety was in its infancy, and parents focused more on keeping children occupied during the ride rather than securing them with belts. The casual disregard for what are now considered basic safety measures reflects a different societal understanding of risk and responsibility in transit. Long road trips were often marked by the sight of unrestrained children moving freely about the cabin, a stark contrast to modern family travel standards.

5. Formal Dinner Party Etiquette

Formal dinner parties were a much more prevalent and structured form of adult socializing than they are today, involving strict adherence to traditional etiquette. Hosts and guests dressed up—men often wore suits and ties, and women wore cocktail dresses. These events included multiple courses, carefully set tables with specific silverware and china, and a defined schedule for serving and conversation. The rigid structure extended to the conversational flow and seating arrangements, which were often planned to facilitate specific interactions. These gatherings were not simply casual get-togethers but deliberate displays of domestic prowess and social standing. The expectation of formality and preparation stood in contrast to the more relaxed, casual entertaining that became dominant in later decades.

6. Children Playing Unsupervised Outdoors for Hours

In many neighborhoods, children had a much longer leash and were expected to spend most of their free time playing outdoors with minimal or no adult supervision. It was common for kids to leave home in the morning and not return until dinner time, roaming relatively large areas. They built forts, played street games, and explored their local environment without cell phones or constant parental check-ins. This independence fostered a strong sense of self-reliance, problem-solving skills, and a complex social structure among neighborhood children. Parents often relied on the general community to keep an eye on things, operating under a different standard of acceptable risk and trust in the local environment. This autonomy stands in stark contrast to the highly scheduled, supervised activities common in modern childhood.

7. The Prevalence of Open-Plan Offices (Office Landscaping)

The 1960s saw the rise of the open-plan office, often called “office landscaping” (Bürolandschaft), designed to promote collaboration and flatten hierarchical structures. These offices featured large rooms filled with desks and low partitions, starkly different from the private offices and cubicles of later years. Workers shared space and were constantly aware of their colleagues’ activities. This environment prioritized immediate, face-to-face communication, making impromptu meetings and overheard conversations normal parts of the workday. While intended to boost communication and democracy, it often resulted in high noise levels and a significant lack of privacy for focused work. The constant visual and auditory presence of others was simply the accepted professional backdrop.

8. Dress Codes for Air Travel

Flying was considered a glamorous, significant event, and passengers were expected to dress the part, even for domestic flights. Men typically wore jackets and ties, and women wore dresses or smart suits. The cabin crew often enforced a certain standard of dress, treating the flight experience with a formality that has since disappeared. This expectation elevated air travel from simple transportation to a social occasion, with the formality reflecting the perceived prestige and expense of flying. The passenger dress code mirrored the meticulous service provided by the airlines, which often included elaborate in-flight meals and a high level of attentive service. Casual attire, like shorts or athletic wear, was generally frowned upon and rarely seen.

9. Segregation of Men and Women in Social Groups

At many social functions, after an initial period of mixed conversation, there was a tendency for men and women to spontaneously segregate into separate groups. The men would often gather to discuss topics like politics, business, or sports, sometimes retreating to a separate room or outside. Meanwhile, the women would discuss children, home life, and other domestic or personal topics. This unofficial but common social partitioning reflected and reinforced the distinct gender roles prevalent at the time. While the formality of these roles was starting to break down, the comfort and familiarity of segregated conversation groups persisted in many settings. The separation was a quiet acknowledgment of the different interests and responsibilities traditionally assigned to each gender.

10. Acceptance of Corporal Punishment in Schools

In many school systems across the United States and other Western countries, corporal punishment—physical discipline administered by teachers or principals—was an accepted and legal method of maintaining order. A paddle or switch was commonly kept in the principal’s office, and it was considered a normal part of the disciplinary process for students who misbehaved. Parents generally supported the use of physical discipline by school authorities, viewing it as a necessary tool for character development and respect for authority. The notion that teachers should act in loco parentis (in place of the parent) extended to the right to administer physical correction. This practice underscores a dramatically different cultural approach to child discipline in educational settings

11. Children Being Seen and Not Heard

A prevailing social expectation for children, especially when adults were present, was that they should remain quiet and unobtrusive. The phrase “children should be seen and not heard” was a widely accepted principle, particularly at adult gatherings or during formal meals. Children were often expected to entertain themselves discreetly or remain silent in a corner. This behavior reflected a hierarchical view of the family and social structure, where adult conversation and activities took precedence. Interrupting adults or inserting oneself into grown-up discussions was considered a severe breach of manners and warranted quick correction. The goal was to instill respect for elders and maintain a clear boundary between the world of the adults and that of the children.

12. Using Hand Signals to Direct Traffic

Before automated signal lights were ubiquitous, and even in areas where they existed, police officers and crossing guards often used intricate hand signals to direct the flow of vehicles and pedestrians at busy intersections. This required drivers and walkers to constantly pay attention to the human authority figure and interpret their specific gestures. This practice emphasized the human element in traffic control and required a shared understanding of non-verbal cues. A simple wave or pointed finger was the only thing preventing gridlock in many major intersections, especially during power outages or rush hour. It relied on a high degree of mutual trust and obedience between the public and the traffic controller.

13. Men Standing When a Woman Enters the Room

A deeply ingrained aspect of traditional chivalry and etiquette was the expectation that a man would stand up whenever a woman entered the room, especially if she was older or a guest. This gesture was a sign of respect, formality, and deference to the woman’s presence. It was a common occurrence in offices, formal gatherings, and even family settings. Failing to rise when a woman entered would have been seen as a breach of manners, suggesting a lack of respect or proper upbringing. While the custom began to fade as gender roles evolved, it was an accepted social ritual that dictated behavior in professional and personal settings. This moment of standing was a quiet, non-verbal acknowledgment of traditional gender decorum.

14. Bartering for Goods and Services

While a cash economy dominated, small-scale bartering and trading services were a more common and accepted practice, especially within small communities or among neighbors. People would often swap skills—a mechanic might trade car repair for a home-cooked meal or a neighbor’s plumbing expertise—without the need for formal invoices or cash payment. This informal economy fostered a strong sense of mutual dependency and community cohesion, where skills and favors were valued currency. It was a practical way to manage budgets and acquire needed services without always involving a formal transaction. This casual exchange of value represented a higher degree of trust between individuals than is typically seen in the more transactional modern world.

15. Casual Drug Use in Specific Social Circles

In certain social and counter-cultural circles, particularly those associated with the hippie movement and youth culture, the use of substances like marijuana (often called “pot” or “weed”) was an open and normalized part of social gatherings. While illegal, the social stigma within these specific groups was low, and it was often viewed as a form of rebellion or a path to expanded consciousness. A casual get-together might routinely include passing a joint around, and this behavior was simply accepted as part of the scene, reflecting a broader challenge to established norms. This normalization, though confined to subcultures, represented a significant social shift and a distinct generational divide from the more straight-laced older population. The behavior was a political and social statement as much as a recreational activity.

16. Open Discussion of Political Activism in Daily Life

The 1960s and 1970s were eras of intense social and political upheaval, driven by the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the rise of second-wave feminism. As a result, open discussion and debate about political issues, protests, and demonstrations were much more common topics in everyday social interaction, even at casual gatherings. People felt a strong imperative to voice their opinions and engage with the turbulent events of the time, often viewing political neutrality as complicity. Dinner tables and living rooms frequently became forums for passionate arguments about the war draft, equality, and government action. This high level of political engagement was a defining characteristic of the era’s social landscape.

17. Using Typewriters in Professional and Academic Settings

The typewriter, both manual and electric, was the indispensable tool for nearly all written communication in offices, schools, and homes. The distinct clack-clack-clack of keys and the ding of the carriage return were the common sounds of professional life. The focus was on meticulous drafting and editing, as making corrections often involved messy correction fluid (like “Wite-Out”). Every document, from a business memo to a college essay, was produced one letter at a time, requiring a level of deliberate focus that digital word processing later eliminated. The need to maintain typing speed and accuracy was a fundamental job skill, and the physical effort involved in preparing documents was a normal part of the workday.

18. Home Calls by Doctors and Clergy

It was a common and accepted practice for professionals, particularly doctors and clergy, to make routine or emergency house calls. A family physician would often visit a sick patient at their home, especially for non-critical ailments or in rural areas, strengthening the personal relationship between the professional and the family. This practice emphasized a more personalized and less institutional approach to care and community service. The home was a central place for all aspects of life, including medical care and spiritual guidance. The expectation of a house call underscores a time when local practitioners were deeply integrated into the fabric of the neighborhood and accessible without the need for a formal office visit.

19. Informal and Casual Borrowing of Money

Within a neighborhood or extended family, the act of casually borrowing and lending small sums of money was a much more informal and accepted practice than it is today. Neighbors or relatives would frequently ask for “a few dollars” to tide them over until payday or to cover a small expense, often without a formal IOU or repayment date. This behavior reflected a reliance on community support and a generally high level of trust within immediate social circles. The expectation was that the favor would be returned when the borrower was able, maintaining the social contract of mutual aid. The formality and distance associated with financial transactions today were often set aside for the sake of neighborly goodwill.

20. Frequent Use of Printed Road Maps and Atlases

Before the advent of GPS and mobile navigation, navigating unfamiliar territory relied entirely on printed road maps, atlases, or Triptiks provided by auto clubs. It was completely normal for drivers to pull over to the side of the road to unfold a large, often complicated map, sometimes causing brief traffic delays. The entire family would often participate in navigation, with a co-pilot studying the map and calling out directions, creating a shared experience of travel. This reliance on physical, static maps meant that getting lost was a common and accepted part of any long journey. This stands in stark contrast to the instant, turn-by-turn guidance available today.

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