People assume rivals share their motivation
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 526 U.S. adults conducted May 11, 2026, nearly two-thirds (63%) say they assume a rival is about as motivated as they are when competing for the same goal, including 9% who strongly agree.
About one-in-five (21%) are neutral, while 16% disagree, including 3% who strongly disagree.
Topline scale
People assume rivals share their motivation.
When competing with someone for the same opportunity or goal, I tend to assume my competitor is about as motivated as I am.
n = 526 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±4.6%
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) | 526 |
| Margin of error | ±4.6% |
| Module | identity |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26
When competing with someone for the same opportunity or goal, I tend to assume my competitor is about as motivated as I am.
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=526 US adults age 18+, +/- 4.6%.