Four hundred and seventy residents of Ridgewood, New Jersey, and 493 residents of Jyvaskyla, Finland, were randomly selected and interviewed about their attitudes concerning nuclear war. In each area, a high proportion of the sample believed that some kind of nuclear incident is likely in the next decade. The vast majority stated that a nuclear war could not be won and that they expected to die in the event of war. About three-quarters in both communities seldom discuss nuclear issues with anyone, including their own children, and only one-quarter of the United States sample and about half of the Finnish sample have ever done anything personally to oppose the arms race. About half of the Americans and three-quarters of the Finns said that the United States was not doing everything possible to prevent nuclear war, and many in both groups favored disarmament. Males in both groups were more likely to believe that nuclear war is winable and survivable. "Survivalists" and "activists" differed on many key questions. Other issues are discussed, particularly with reference to numerous recent studies concerning nuclear attitudes. Also discussed is the issue of advocacy research and the role of the behavioral sciences in dealing with the nuclear threat. (Author)