Interpersonal trust, trustworthiness, and gullibility

Discusses the positive and potential negative consequences of being high or low in interpersonal trust in current social life, particularly in interacting with ordinary people. A summary and analysis of previous investigations led to the following conclusions: People who trust more are less likely to lie and are possibly less likely to cheat or steal. They are more likely to give others a second chance and to respect the rights of others. The high truster is less likely to be unhappy, conflicted, or maladjusted, and is liked more and sought out as a friend more often, by both low-trusting and high-trusting others. When gullibility is defined as naiveté or foolishness and trust is defined as believing others in the absence of clear-cut reasons to disbelieve, then it can be shown over a series of studies that high trusters are not more gullible than low trusters. (17 ref)