1944: Most of the nations of the world have direct or indirect involvement in the Second World War, which has been going on in Europe for five years.

Today: The nations of the world sometimes become involved in smaller conflicts by contributing peacekeeping forces to group efforts by the United Nations or NATO, but, especially in the United States, war is not the central concern of many.

1944: Excessive drinking is viewed as a harmless pastime that is frowned upon by prudes.

Today: Alcoholism is recognized as a serious, chronic disease.

1944: People fear that the use of drugs to control psychological abnormalities will leave patients as zombies, void of personality.

Today: Even though the use of drug therapy is more widespread than ever before, people still fear that psychologists will prescribe psychoactive drugs unnecessarily.

1944: People receive their daily news from newspapers and the radio. Once a...