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Chapter 11 - Trust and Demographics

Age and Gender Differences in Trust and Reciprocity Behavior

from Part III - Neurocharacteristic Level of Trust

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2021

By
Hester Sijtsma  and
Lydia Krabbendam
Edited by
Frank Krueger
Frank Krueger
Affiliation:
George Mason University, Virginia
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Summary

Trust is present from a very young age, but its expression in social interactions shows important changes over the lifetime. This chapter summarizes the research on age differences in trust, and explores the differences between males and females. Trust behavior can be measured using the trust game, which simulates a social interaction. Research shows that at a young age, trust is present at the start of the interaction but it is yet unclear whether this increases throughout development. Studies indicated an increase in the ability to adapt trust behavior, as well as an increase of reciprocity behavior throughout adolescence. Relatedly, an increase of activity in mentalizing-related areas and a decrease of activity in areas related to reward and conflict monitoring during adolescence and young adulthood is found. Often, males show more trust behavior than females although these differences are small. Sex differences in reciprocity behavior are found less often. Neuroimaging studies showed males have more activity in mentalizing-related areas while females show more activity in areas associated with reward and learning processes. Future studies may examine individual differences in the neural mechanisms of trust in relation with social context factors, such as cultural orientation or socioeconomic status.

Keywords

trustreciprocity behaviorsexagedevelopment
Type
Chapter
Information
The Neurobiology of Trust , pp. 269 - 292
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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