New Research Reveals Complex Relationship Between Loneliness and Trust

Loneliness
Spread the love

Loneliness: An Anomalous Position of Faith

A surprising dynamic was found in recent research published in the British Journal of Psychology: lonely individuals tend to trust others more, yet expect those others to be less trustworthy while extraverted individuals, generally experiencing less loneliness, showed the opposite pattern.

Understanding Loneliness

Loneliness is a feeling that arises from an emotional need felt but not met by other people. It is not about being alone; one can feel isolated even when surrounded by many people. Loneliness can be temporary or lasting in nature and the latter has been related to various health problems such as depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease and weak immunity.

The Vicious Circle of Loneliness

As a result of this isolation lonely persons often withdraw from social activities thus creating a cycle of loneliness and depression. The effect of loneliness on trust and expectations about others’ trustworthiness was examined by Gabriele Bellucci and Soyoung Q. Park.

Study Design and Methods

Study 1: Economic Games and Trust

The first study invited 209 young participants to play economic games for measuring their level of trust or mistrust towards other people (also known as cooperativeness). Respondents determined how much money they wish share with their partners knowing that it will be tripled before being returned according to the partner’s choice. Participants also completed measures of well-being including loneliness, happiness, self-esteem, need-to-belong among others.

Study 2: Personality Traits and Trust

In replication of study one with 159 participants including measures (extraversion & agreeableness) regarding personality traits was made in order to test whether these traits moderate the relationship between loneliness and trust.

Study 3: Online Examination

Personality traits affect the connection amid loneliness and reliance on internet.

Participants

Two hundred nineteen participants participated in the study which was conducted online.

Key Findings: Trust and Loneliness

Lonely but Trusting

The first study showed that those who were lonelier also trusted others more while expecting less trustworthy behavior from them, thereby leading to a contradictory situation in relation to loneliness and trust.

Personality Matters

In contrast, the extraverted or agreeable individuals had lower feelings of loneliness and predicted higher trustworthiness of other people. On the flip side, when it came to introverted people as well as those who found it difficult to fit into their environment, they viewed others as untrustworthy; nevertheless, being more neurotic did not have an effect on expectations of trust besides greater loneliness.

Extraversion and Trust

Moreover, the third study disclosed that extraverts anticipated lower partner’s trust than introverts did despite having higher expectations about its reliability.

Broader Implications

This research argues that loneliness affects both behaviors of trust and our expectations about trust which is moderated by personality traits. Also whereas males reported higher levels of loneliness than females, unmarriedness, older age group, higher income led to greater levels of isolation among the respondents.

Conclusion and Future Directions

According to Gabriele Bellucci and Soyoung Q. Park “higher levels of loneliness predicted a greater mismatch between social expectations and behaviors,” with lonelier individuals trusting more despite more negative expectations of their partner’s trustworthiness.” Furthermore such impacts were particularly strong among less extroverted subjects.”

The research provides important insights but admits some limitations like using small sums of money for experiments and lack of human contact during game playing. Future studies may examine such dynamics against a backdrop involving much starker realities through true-to-life engagements between persons.

“Loneliness is associated with more trust but worse trustworthiness expectations” was authored by Gabriele Bellucci & Soyoung Q. Park.



Spread the love

Leave a Reply

  • The FMRP Protein In Neurons Help In Learning And Memory, Study Finds

    The FMRP Protein In Neurons Help In Learning And Memory, Study Finds

    American researchers show how the FMRP protein in neurons works…

  • Humans Display Context-Dependent Behavior In Society, Research Reveals

    Humans Display Context-Dependent Behavior In Society, Research Reveals

    Researchers show how humans display context-dependent behavior while interacting in…

  • Higher Educational Attainment Prevents Dementia, Study Finds

    Higher Educational Attainment Prevents Dementia, Study Finds

    Finnish researchers show how higher educational attainment helps prevent cardiovascular…

  • Migraines Prevent People From Going To Work, Study Says

    Migraines Prevent People From Going To Work, Study Says

    Researchers warn about the severity of headache disorders and their…

  • Bedtime Media Use Makes You Sleep Less, Research Reveals

    Bedtime Media Use Makes You Sleep Less, Research Reveals

    Researchers warn how bedtime media use harms your sleep schedule.

  • Scientists Discover Neuropixels To Record Brain Activity

    Scientists Discover Neuropixels To Record Brain Activity

    Researchers have discovered a tool called Neuropixels to record brain…

  • Recognizing How Social Media Affects The Mental Health of Young Indians

    Experts voice the need to regulate social media use in…

  • Covid-19 Vaccines Improve Mental Health, Research Finds

    Covid-19 Vaccines Improve Mental Health, Research Finds

    Researchers at the research group, Elsevier, show how Covid-19 vaccines…

  • India Is Shifting Gears About Mental Health, Says Deepika Padukone’s Foundation

    Several surveys are noting the changing approach towards mental health…

  • Major Depressive Disorder Mostly Remains Untreated Globally, Study Reveals

    Major Depressive Disorder Mostly Remains Untreated Globally, Study Reveals

    A study published in PLOS Medicine reveals the disparity in…

  • The Brain Region Of Hippocampus Organizes Memories In A Sequence, Study Finds

    The Brain Region Of Hippocampus Organizes Memories In A Sequence, Study Finds

    Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, shed light into…

  • Heart Attack Reduces the Risk of Parkinson’s Disease, Study Says

    Heart Attack Reduces the Risk of Parkinson’s Disease, Study Says

    Researchers from Denmark show how heart attack survivors are at…

  • The Biological Clock Does Not Influence Task Performance, Study Suggests

    The Biological Clock Does Not Influence Task Performance, Study Suggests

    Researchers show how you can increase your task performance without…

  • Coming To Terms With The Mental Health “Pandemic” In Indian School Children

    The closure of schools has triggered a mental health “crisis”…

  • Study Links Increased Duty At Home And Work To Weight Gain In Middle Age

    Study Links Increased Duty At Home And Work To Weight Gain In Middle Age

    A study surveys middle-aged people and reveals how family and…

  • How Do We Come To Terms With The Indian Reality Of Social Exclusion?

    Mental health professionals and social scientists provide insight into the…

  • Impatient And Risk-tolerant People Are Prone To Committing Crimes, Study Finds

    Impatient And Risk-tolerant People Are Prone To Committing Crimes, Study Finds

    Researchers at the University of Copenhagen show how personal preferences…

  • Your Smartphone Identifies You By How You Use Apps, Study Shows

    Your Smartphone Identifies You By How You Use Apps, Study Shows

    A study shows how softwares in smartphones identify you by…

  • Study Reveals The Genetic Link Between Depression And Alzheimer’s Disease

    Study Reveals The Genetic Link Between Depression And Alzheimer’s Disease

    A new study warns how depression leads to Alzheimer’s disease…

  • Juvenile Fibromyalgia: New Study Analyzes Brain Changes

    Juvenile Fibromyalgia: New Study Analyzes Brain Changes

    Researchers at the University of Barcelona show how early symptoms…

  • Coworker Support Enhances Positivity At Work And Home, Research Finds

    Coworker Support Enhances Positivity At Work And Home, Research Finds

    Researchers at the University of Bath’s School of Management show…

  • Green Spaces In Hospitals Reduce Stress, Study Finds

    Green Spaces In Hospitals Reduce Stress, Study Finds

    Researchers at West Virginia University show how healthcare spaces can…

  • ‘Math’ Neurons In The Brain Are Fired During Mental Math, Study Finds

    ‘Math’ Neurons In The Brain Are Fired During Mental Math, Study Finds

    Spread the loveBrain News – Two teams of researchers in…

  • Can You Secure Patient Confidentiality In Mental Health Programs At Your Workplace?

    With the 2017 Mental Health Act mandating mental health at…

  • Students With Attention Problems Are Likely To Cheat In Exams, Study Finds

    Students With Attention Problems Are Likely To Cheat In Exams, Study Finds

    Spread the lovePsychology News – Researchers at the Ohio State…

  • How Can We Deal With The Sorry Reality Of Cyber Addiction In Indian Children?

    In the wake of rising cyber addiction in Indian children,…

  • Study Finds Autism Traits In Young Adults With Substance Abuse

    Study Finds Autism Traits In Young Adults With Substance Abuse

    Spread the loveHealth News – Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital…