Report · Culture

Motivation often changes when others seem motivated

Reading

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted May 11, 2026, 88% of Americans said their own level of motivation changes at least a small amount depending on whether they think the people around them are motivated.

About a third said their motivation changes moderately or more depending on others (37%), with 19% who said moderately, 13% who said quite a bit, and 5% who said a great deal. Another 41% said it changes somewhat (25%) or a little (16%), and 12% said very little. Just 12% said it does not change at all.

Topline

response scale

Topline scale

88% of Americans say their motivation responds at least a small amount to the people around them.

How much does your own level of motivation change depending on whether you think the people around you are motivated?

  • Somewhat 24.5%
  • Moderately 18.7%
  • A little 15.5%
  • Quite a bit 12.9%
  • Not at all 11.6%
  • Very little 11.6%
  • A great deal 5.3%

2026 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.3%

identity

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Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2026-05-11 → 2026-05-11
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.3%
Module
identity

Source

  • 01
    Motivation often changes when others seem motivatedreports.verasight.io/reports/spsp26

Citation

Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

https://reports.verasight.io/reports/spsp26#q-identity-4

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. Each wave's specific field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that wave's report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
Every wave is published as a standalone report at verasight.io/reports with full instrument and methodology.
Transparency
AAPOR transparency standards.

Wave-specific methodology, full weighting variable lists, and verbatim instrument text live in each report at verasight.io/reports.