# Americans lean toward valuing openness over tradition

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/culture/americans-lean-toward-valuing-openness-over-tradition/

> Indexed question in Culture.

## Reading

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

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).

Americans lean toward valuing openness over tradition.

- Neutral: 34.4%
- Somewhat Openness more than Conservation: 15.6%
- Openness more than Conservation: 15.3%
- Somewhat Conservation more than Openness: 12.2%
- Conservation more than Openness: 8.5%
- Definitely Openness more than Conservation: 7.7%
- Definitely Conservation more than Openness: 6.3%

## 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: 2025-02-28 → 2025-03-06
- 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

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-spsp-2025.tiiny.co#preference-between-conservation-vs.-openness-values-variable-personality_19](https://verasight-spsp-2025.tiiny.co#preference-between-conservation-vs.-openness-values-variable-personality_19)

## Citation

Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2025-010, fielded February 28-March 6, 2025, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.5%.

Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-spsp-2025.tiiny.co#preference-between-conservation-vs.-openness-values-variable-personality_19](https://verasight-spsp-2025.tiiny.co#preference-between-conservation-vs.-openness-values-variable-personality_19)