PsyBlog wrote an article about how little trust we put in other people.
Here it is: http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/04/the-trust-gap-why-people-are-so-cynical.php
"When thinking about strangers, studies have shown that people think others are more selfishly motivated than they really are and that others are less helpful than they really are."
So we think others are more selfish than they are, and less helpful. How they measured how selfish and helpful people really are is a mystery to me.
I like having faith in other people. I've noticed that people often do not give others the benefit of a doubt. I like to give them that trust. Sometimes, yeah, people betray it. But I try not to let the anger of broken trust lead to completely severed ties. Life is too short to stay mad, and to let one experience or even multiple ones show you how to judge another person, and certainly not let that be your guide for everyone!
I do understand the need to not trust others. We're looking out for ourselves, so that we don't get hurt. The article points out that maybe this is why we trust others so little. By instinct, we avoid that which may bring us pain. Makes sense.
Doesn't this limit us though? If you never try, if you let the negative consume you, you can't win. You won't. Your expectations will come true.
"Trusting others is also a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy, just as we find in interpersonal attraction. If you try trusting others you'll find they frequently repay that trust, leading you to be more trusting. On the other hand if you never trust anyone, except those nearest and dearest, then you'll end up more cynical about strangers."
-iNTune
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