Using similar methods to Mr. Lenz’s, Michael Tesler, a political scientist at the University of California, Irvine, has conducted research on long-held predispositions, like views about people who are “different from you.” Mr. Tesler found that voters are less likely to change those kinds of positions to follow their party leaders.

For the full story, please visit https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/21/upshot/why-trumps-softening-on-immigration-is-unlikely-to-splinter-his-base.html?src=twr&_r=0.