Interpersonal distance adjustments after interactions with a generous and selfish trustee during a repeated trust game

Abstract

How physically close to an individual we choose to stand—our interpersonal distance preference—is thought to closely reflect the trust placed in the individual. However, the exact relationship between interpersonal distance and trust is not well understood and the causal effects of trust on interpersonal distance have not yet been demonstrated and quantified experimentally. Here, we induced trust (vs distrust) in an interaction partner through generous (vs selfish) monetary transactions in a repeated trust game. Subjects' investments in, experienced trust in, and expected back-transfers from the two interaction partners indicated that they learned to distrust more the selfish (vs generous) interaction partner. Further, across two experiments, using a pre-post design in which interpersonal distance preferences were measured before and after the trust game, preferred reflective and reflexive interpersonal distance from the selfish interaction partner increased, whereas interactions with the generous partner did not change these preferences. Importantly, the post-game distance was associated with subjects' experienced trust in the selfish interaction partner, and not their monetary decisions made during the game. These findings are a starting point for our understanding of how interactions with untrusted others can be successful. We speculate that an increased interpersonal distance might be accompanied by an increased psychological distance (e.g. through impersonal communication), which might help prevent a break-down of an interaction with a distrusted partner.