Generalized Trust

Abstract

This article addresses generalized trust, a construct that is examined in various scientific disciplines and assumed to be of central importance to understanding the functioning of individuals, groups, and society at large. We share four basic lessons on trust: (a) Generalized trust is more a matter of culture than genetics; (b) trust is deeply rooted in social interaction experiences (that go beyond childhood), networks, and media; (c) people have too little trust in other people in general; and (d) it is adaptive to regulate a “healthy dose” of generalized trust. Each of these lessons is inspired and illustrated by recent research from different scientific disciplines.