Americans are evenly split on whether people can really change
Core finding
A narrow majority of Americans (51%) agree that a person's basic character cannot change much, while 49% disagree, according to a May 2026 Verasight survey.
That agreement is mostly mild: somewhat agree is the largest single response at 31%, and only 4% strongly agree. Firm disagreement is just as rare, at 6%.
Topline scale
Americans are evenly split on whether people can really change.
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: The kind of person someone is is something very basic about them, and it can't be changed very much.
n = 1,000 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | May 11, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.3% |
| Module | society |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: The kind of person someone is is something very basic about them, and it can't be changed very much.
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.