Children’s Interpersonal Trust: An Introduction

Abstract

Social philosophers during the course of history (i.e., Hartmann, 1932) and modern-day researchers (i.e., Deutsch, 1973; Rotter, 1971, 1980) have expressed the belief that interpersonal trust is essential for the achievement of harmonious and cooperative social relationships among people. Interpersonal trust has been considered to be the social “cement” that binds interpersonal relationships in society and is necessary for its survival. As part of this recognition, social philosophers and researchers have been concerned with children’s interpersonal trust. Often, this has been guided by the notion that the interpersonal trust of adults, and therefore society, has its origins in the interpersonal trust formed during childhood. The belief held is that insight into the strength of the adults’ interpersonal trust is provided by understanding the formation,of interpersonal trust during childhood. This rationale served as one impetus for this book. In addition, however, the book is guided by the notion that it is important to understand interpersonal trust in children for its own sake. Children are part of society and, as a consequence, it is important to determine the factors that affect their interpersonal trust.