A new study is challenging conventional wisdom about trust and betrayal, revealing that people often still trust someone who has betrayed others – if they themselves benefited from the betrayal. The research, published in Evolution and Human Behavior, helps explain why some seemingly contradictory relationships flourish despite past infidelities or breaches of trust.
Through seven carefully designed experiments involving over 1,700 participants, researchers from UCLA and Oklahoma State University found that while people generally view betrayers as less trustworthy, their judgment significantly shifts when they personally gain from the betrayal.
The Science of Trust
“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,” explains study co-author Jaimie Krems, a professor of psychology at UCLA. “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.”
The researchers tested this theory across various scenarios, including friendship, romantic relationships, and professional settings. In each case, participants consistently rated people as more trustworthy when their betrayals benefited them, compared to when they were harmed by or unaffected by the betrayal.
This pattern held true whether the betrayal involved sharing secrets among friends, romantic infidelity, or even international espionage scenarios where participants role-played as CIA agents working with foreign officials.
Real-World Implications
The findings help explain numerous real-world situations that might otherwise seem paradoxical – from workplace relationships to romantic partnerships that begin through infidelity. They suggest that human trust assessments are more nuanced and self-interested than previously thought.
The research team tested their hypotheses through various scenarios, using a seven-point scale to measure trustworthiness. While participants consistently rated non-betrayers as more trustworthy than betrayers, the difference significantly diminished when the betrayal worked in their favor.
These results were remarkably consistent across different types of relationships and scenarios, suggesting a fundamental aspect of how humans assess trustworthiness. The study included extensive controls and variations to ensure the findings weren’t limited to specific contexts or relationship types.
This research has implications beyond personal relationships, potentially affecting fields from business ethics to international diplomacy. It suggests that trust assessments are inherently tied to self-interest, even when people might not consciously recognize this influence.
The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and included participants from across the United States, providing a broad demographic sample for the findings.