title: If you are able to control yourself, I will trust you: the role of perceived self-control in interpersonal trust.
abstract: The present research tested the hypothesis that perception of others' self-control is an indicator of their trustworthiness. The authors investigated whether, in interactions between strangers as well as in established relationships, people detect another person's self-control, and whether this perception of self-control, in turn, affects trust. Results of 4 experiments supported these hypotheses. The first 2 experiments revealed that participants detected another person's trait of self-control. Experiments 3 and 4 revealed that participants also detected the temporary depletion of another person's self-control. Confirming the authors' predictions, perceived trait and state self-control, in turn, influenced people's judgment of the other person's trustworthiness. In line with previous research, these findings support the positive value of self-control for relationships and highlight the role of perceived self-control for the development of a fundamental relationship factor: trust.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Righetti
authors.forename: Catrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Finkenauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D009426:Netherlands; D012938:Social Perception; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult