According to a new psychological bailiwick , people who are more prone to feel guilty are also usually the I that are more likely to act in a trustworthy manner . “ Guilt - proneness ” is a stronger forecaster of how trustworthy a person is compared to other traits such as extraversion , openness , agreeability , neuroticism , and painstakingness .
The sketch , published in theJournal of Personality and Social Psychology , had participants playing dissimilar economic game and complete surveys that allowed researcher to assess both trustworthy behavior and intention . In the games , masses that were assess as guilt - prostrate returned more money to others than citizenry with humbled guilt - proneness .
The researcher claim that this report is unusual because most of the previous research on trust focuses on what makes people more or less trusting . This work focused on what makes the great unwashed more or less trusty .
" confidence and trustworthiness are critical for good human relationship and efficacious organizations , " the researchers said in astatement . " Individuals and institutions incur high cost when trust is misplaced , but people can mitigate these costs by engaging in human relationship with someone who are trustworthy . "
" Our determination reach out the material lit on trust by deepen our apprehension of trustworthiness : When deciding in whom to point combine , confide the guilt - prostrate . "
The researchers clarify that being prone to guilt feelings is not the same as feeling guilty . Feeling guilty is a reaction to a evildoing and it usually generates reaction towards a mend . Guilt - proneness is about the anticipation of guilty conscience over some future error , so guilt - prone people prefer to forefend committing the transgression in the first place .
This guilt trip - proneness can be teach . In one of the experiments , some participants were asked to read a code of behaviour while others were asked to read a passage about the importance of seem after themselves . Those who were primed to behave responsibly returned more money to others than the relief .
" Our inquiry suggest that if you desire your employee to be desirable of confidence , make certain they finger in person responsible for for their behavior and that they expect to feel guilty about misconduct , " lead author Dr Emma Levine excuse .
It come along that the old adage of making someone trustworthy is to trust them is clearly not honest . Guilt - proneness is much more in effect .
