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Age-related similarities and differences in first impressions of trustworthiness
Bailey, Phoebe E. Szczap, Paulina McLennan, Skye N. Slessor, Gillian Ruffman, Ted Rendell, Peter G.
Bailey, Phoebe E.
Szczap, Paulina
McLennan, Skye N.
Slessor, Gillian
Ruffman, Ted
Rendell, Peter G.
Abstract
Trust is a particularly under-studied aspect of social relationships in older age. In the current study, young (n = 35) and older adults (n = 35) completed a series of one-shot social economic trust games in which they invested real money with trustees. There were potential gains with each investment and also a risk of losing everything if the trustee was untrustworthy. The reputation and facial appearance of each trustee were manipulated to make them appear more or less trustworthy. Results revealed that young and older adults invest more money with trustees whose facial appearance and reputation indicate that they are trustworthy rather than untrustworthy. However, older adults were more likely than young to invest with trustees who had a reputation for being untrustworthy. We discuss whether age-related differences in responding to negative information may account for an age-related increase in trust, particularly when trusting someone with a reputation for being uncooperative.
Keywords
Date
2016
Type
Journal article
Journal
Cognition and Emotion
Book
Volume
30
Issue
5
Page Range
1017-1026
Article Number
ACU Department
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled