Trust Repair and Self‐Affirmation: The Effect of Engaging in a Self‐Affirming Activity on Trusting Behaviour after a Trust Violation has Occurred

Abstract

Interpersonal trust and cooperative relationships are essential in workplace and social settings. Interpersonal trust is an attitude that reflects a willingness to be vulnerable to another person based on the expectation that he or she will act benevolently. A trust violation occurs when an individual’s expectations about the way a person would act have not been met. According to self‐affirmation theory, people are motivated to protect their sense of self‐worth. If someone experiences a threat to their self in one domain, they can satisfy the self‐affirmation motive by affirming an aspect of their identity in a different domain. The purpose of this study is to look at how self‐affirmation influences trust violation and repair. I examine whether engaging in a self‐affirming activity, prior to or following a trust violation, increases an individual’s subsequent trusting behaviour. Participants share personal information and complete an obstacle course task with a confederate to develop trust. They then play a money game in which the confederate breaks participants’ trust by sharing less money than expected with the participant. In two conditions participants complete an affirming writing task either prior to or following the violation; in two other conditions, they complete a non affirming writing activity prior to or following the violation. There is also a no writing control condition. Subsequent trusting behaviour and attitudes are measured using questionnaires and tasks. This research identifies factors that help manage trust violation and restore trust, which is essential to effective relationships in the workplace.