Americans lean toward valuing openness over tradition
Core finding
Given a choice between valuing openness and valuing tradition and security, more Americans lean toward openness than toward conservation. Nearly four-in-ten favor openness to some degree (39%, including 8% who strongly favor it), against 27% who lean the other way (including 6% strongly), according to a March 2025 Verasight survey.
The single largest group, though, is neutral, at 34%.
Topline distribution
Americans lean toward valuing openness over tradition.
Please rate which of these two values are more important to you, personally: Conservation (valuing security for myself and my society, leaving up to social expectations, preserving tradition), or Openness (valuing independence of thought and action, looking for new experiences and varied life).
n = 1,000 · Feb 28 – Mar 6, 2025 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | United States adults |
| Field dates | Feb 28 – Mar 6, 2025 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | personality |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- verasight-spsp-2025.tiiny.co
Please rate which of these two values are more important to you, personally: Conservation (valuing security for myself and my society, leaving up to social expectations, preserving tradition), or Openness (valuing independence of thought and action, looking for new experiences and varied life).
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2025-010, fielded February 28-March 6, 2025, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.5%.