Social Identity and the Group Context of Trust: Managing Risk and Building Trust through Belonging

As a species, humans are relatively weak and vulnerable, and depend upon others for physical and social survival. We have an overwhelming need to form bonds with and attachments to others (Baumeister and Leary, 1995) – a need that is laid down in very early childhood (Bowlby, 1988). Because this fundamental social dependency, based upon personal vulnerability, puts us at potential risk of physical and psychological exploitation from those we depend upon, we need to assess the degree of risk associated with particular relationships in order to decide whom to trust. Trust, therefore, plays a key role in social dependency and social connections. Trust is the bond that nourishes close personal relationships with partners, friends and family, and a sense of belonging and attachment to social groups and larger social categories. According to Marar (2003), it is personal vulnerability that lies at the heart of the need to trust – if we did not feel vulnerable we would not feel the need to trust people.