To trust or not to trust, that is the question Northwestern University psychology professor David DeSteno explores in his exhaustive—but ultimately inconclusive—examination of the human longing to believe in another person’s integrity and reliability. Trust is a factor in all human interactions. We trust that the gasoline we’re pumping into our car is actually gasoline. We trust that the pharmacist will fill the prescription correctly. We trust that when we call 911, someone will answer. So what is trust, exactly? Is it an emotion, a virtue or something else? There’s no clear answer to those questions, either.
What is clear (and supported by research) is that “trust influences more than most of us would have imagined,” affecting how we learn, love, take care of our health and conduct business. Lack of trust can adversely impact our professional and business relationships by cutting off a potentially satisfying, lucrative partnership. Trusting someone, whether it's in business or in love, means taking a risk.
But it’s a risk worth taking, DeSteno writes, because on average, the potential benefits from trusting others considerably outweigh the risks. While The Truth About Trust
by David DeSteno, Ph.D.
January
Hudson Street Press; $25.95
