On the 250th anniversary of the United States, a new issue has emerged that is as important to Americans as affordability: How we treat one another. The first-ever Dignity Barometer, released today, finds that, while an overwhelming 94% of Americans— with broad agreement across political affiliations—share a core value that “people deserve to be treated with dignity,” only three in ten (31%) say we actually treat each other that way.
The Crisis of Contempt
The Dignity Barometer, a first-of-its-kind tracking poll from Dignity.us and conducted by Hart Research, reveals that Americans view national division not as a distant political problem, but as a kitchen-table crisis affecting their daily lives. More than three in four Americans (78%) are dissatisfied with how we treat each other, and Americans are as worried about our division (83%) as they are about the cost of living (86%).
Respondents view politics as the most contemptuous sphere in American society, with only 10% saying people involved in politics and campaigns generally treat others with dignity, while 58% say they tend to treat each other with contempt.
The Dignity Solution
The results show that Americans agree on how to address the contempt crisis: by treating one another with dignity, even when we disagree.
- 92% say treating others with dignity builds trust
- 87% believe that when contempt tears us apart, treating each other with dignity can bring us together
- 72% believe healing our divisions is possible—with even higher confidence among those who regularly talk with people they disagree with politically
“These findings offer a way out: Stand up for your views while honoring the dignity that we all deserve,” says Dr. Timothy Shriver, co-founder of Dignity.us and Chairperson of Special Olympics. “Why? Because dehumanizing others makes enemies for your cause, and contempt kills our conversations. But dignity lets us keep talking. It helps us stay in the game.”
The survey notes that “treating someone with dignity means treating them in a way that honors their inherent worth as a human being.” When asked why treating others with dignity is important, the top reason was to be better role models for our children.
Dignity Starts with Me
More than three-quarters of Americans (77%) say they treat others with dignity, but less than half (47%) say they receive dignity in return—a 30-point gap that suggests it might be hard to see our own contempt.
Self-reflection itself may help close that gap. Over the course of the 25-minute survey, the share of Americans who believe they can personally make a difference jumped nine points. One respondent noted, “[Taking the survey] makes you want to take a look at how you treat people.”
“For the sake of our own self-image, we don’t want to see our own contempt,” says Dignity.us co founder, Tom Rosshirt. “But just talking about dignity and contempt can help us see our role in the problem and in the solution. Change starts with dignity, and dignity starts with me.”
Maury Giles, CEO of Braver Angels, emphasized that dignity begins with the choice to act instead of react. “When people choose to engage with those who see the world differently and work together in their communities,” Giles noted, “dignity becomes more than an ideal; it becomes the foundation for solving real problems. Braver Angels is proud to partner with the Dignity Index to help make that choice visible, measurable, and actionable.”
Voters Are Paying Attention
As of February 2026, nine in ten Americans (90%) say they would support candidates who make treating people with dignity a top priority, signaling that voters are at a point where they will reward leaders who offer an alternative to divisive rhetoric.
Tami Pyfer, former elected official and co-founder of Dignity.us, says “The Barometer findings send a clear message that voters are looking for politicians who model dignity. Americans are bringing dignity into the voting booth.”
“The National Governors’ Association is proud to join Dignity.us in this essential work,” says Brandon Tatum, Executive Director, National Governors’ Association. “Solving massive problems like housing and cost of living requires dignity across political divisions, and this research confirms that Americans expect better from their leaders.”
“NLC is pleased to partner with Dignity.us in moving forward the conversation on dignity,” said Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities. “Local elected officials are the closest to residents and best positioned to lead America out of our civility crisis. NLC is urging cities, towns and villages across America to develop and pass their own civility resolutions to reduce polarization and create an environment with our shared values.”
About Dignity.us
The Dignity Barometer establishes a baseline for tracking how Americans treat each other, with plans to return to the field annually. The next update is scheduled for Presidents’ Day 2027, allowing the nation to measure progress in closing the dignity gap. In 2022, Dignity.us developed the Dignity Index, an eight-point scale for measuring how we treat each other when we disagree. Since launch, the organization has trained thousands of educators, students, business leaders, and elected officials. Co-creators are Tami Pyfer, Tom Rosshirt, and Dr. Timothy Shriver, who also serves as Chairperson of Special Olympics.
Methodology
Hart Research, a D.C.-based public opinion polling company, conducted an online survey of 1,503 adults across the United States from February 10-14, 2026. Survey respondents were drawn from a large market research panel and weighted to be representative based on U.S. Census data. The Dignity Barometer is the first in a series of nationally representative surveys designed to assess how Americans treat each other and track progress over time.
