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Chapter 1 - Trust and Psychology

Psychological Theories and Principles Underlying Interpersonal Trust

from Part I - Fundamental Level of Trust

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2021

By
Jeffry A. Simpson  and
Grace Vieth
Edited by
Frank Krueger
Frank Krueger
Affiliation:
George Mason University, Virginia
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Summary

The development of trust is a prerequisite to forming and maintaining stable, satisfying relationships across the lifespan. Several major theories within psychology, including attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969) and Erikson’s (1963) theory of psychosocial development, are based on the premise that experiencing higher levels of trust with close others, particularly early in life, can lay the groundwork for happier, better functioning relationships in adulthood. In this chapter, we first review major several theoretical accounts of interpersonal trust in the field of psychology and identify some of the key principles that provide an understanding of trust. We then describe a dyadic model of trust informed by these theories that integrates many of these principles. Following this, we provide a representative overview of recent research on trust within the field of psychology, showing how trust operates in different types of relationships. We conclude the chapter by suggesting some directions in which future research on trust might head.

Keywords

interpersonal trusttrustworthinessinterdependencediagnostic testsfelt security
Type
Chapter
Information
The Neurobiology of Trust , pp. 15 - 35
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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