Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – In today’s complex world, trust is a valuable commodity. We rely on trust to build relationships, conduct business, and maintain social cohesion. However, when that trust is placed in a liar, the consequences can be disastrous.
Liars, by definition, are individuals who deliberately deceive others for personal gain or to avoid consequences. They may spin elaborate tales, omit crucial details, or present false information as truth. Whatever their methods, the result is the same: a betrayal of trust that can have far-reaching implications.
One of the most significant dangers of trusting a liar is the potential for personal harm. Liars often manipulate others to achieve their goals, whether it’s to extract money, secure a promotion, or gain an emotional advantage. Those who place their trust in a liar may find themselves victims of fraud, heartbreak, or worse.
Moreover, trusting a liar can have ripple effects that extend beyond the immediate relationship. For example, a business that trusts a dishonest employee may suffer financial losses, damaged reputation, and legal troubles. Similarly, a person who trusts a lying partner may experience emotional trauma, strained family relationships, and a loss of self-esteem.
Previous studies and common sense have also suggested that people’s perception of someone’s trustworthiness is shaped by their history of actions and reputation for betrayal. However, new research from psychologists at UCLA and Oklahoma State University sheds light on why individuals may still place trust in certain cheaters or betrayers.
The psychologists, in a study published in Evolution and Human Behavior, found that when someone’s betrayal benefits us, we are more likely to view them as trustworthy. While participants generally saw those who betrayed others as less reliable, they still considered someone trustworthy if the betrayal worked in their favor.
This research explores the role trustworthiness plays in human relationships. The study suggests that judgments about someone’s trustworthiness are driven by the need to make adaptive decisions—choices that align with our own interests. While people are often aware of a person’s reputation for betrayal, the researchers predicted that trustworthiness is also influenced by personal factors, including how the betrayal directly affects the individual making the judgment.
“Making decisions about whom to trust based only on whether that person has betrayed someone else might not be the best way to determine whether or not I can trust someone,” explained study co-author and UCLA professor of psychology Jaimie Krems.
“Sure, if someone betrays other people, that could be a valuable cue that they might betray me — but not always. For example, think about that friend who always tells you other friends’ secrets but doesn’t share yours. This friend is betraying other people but enriching you with information,” said Krems.
As expected, participants across all types of relationships viewed individuals as more trustworthy when they refrained from betraying others and less trustworthy when they did. However, not all acts of betrayal were judged equally harshly. If the betrayal benefited the participant, the individual was still perceived as trustworthy. This trend was observed consistently in friendships, romantic relationships, and professional connections.
The results supported the researchers’ hypothesis that judgments of trustworthiness are shaped both by a person’s general disposition and by unique factors specific to the participant and the situation.
The study highlights that while people often aspire to high standards of trust in theory, their actions are frequently influenced by self-interest in practice.
The research received backing from the National Science Foundation and may cause us to reconsider the whole aspect of trust in many different areas. This may include both personal and business relationships, with many different factors to take into consideration.
