What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the relationship between self-trust and personal autonomy, considering role mediation.

May 7, 2026Open Access

Self‐Trust, Social Roles, and Autonomy

Key Points

To examine the relationship between self-trust and personal autonomy, considering role mediation.
Development of a comprehensive account of self-trust's forms
Analysis of the connection between self-trust and personal autonomy
Argumentation of the effects of too much or too little self-trust on autonomy
Establishes three theses about trust and its implications for self-trust and autonomy
Demonstrates the necessity of self-trust for personal autonomy
Highlights that both excessive and insufficient self-trust can undermine autonomy.

Abstract

ABSTRACT We develop a comprehensive account of self‐trust in its role‐mediated, general and universal forms, highlight the connection between self‐trust and personal autonomy, and argue that we can have too much or too little self‐trust. Both can undermine personal autonomy. Our account explicates and supports three compelling theses about trust: that interpersonal trust is often trust in a person in a social role (Thesis One); that self‐trust is a nonprototypical variant of interpersonal trust (Thesis Two); and that self‐trust is essential to autonomy (Thesis Three).

Self‐Trust, Social Roles, and Autonomy

Key Points

Abstract

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