Longitudinal Associations Between Friendship Ethnic/Racial Composition and Ethnic/Racial Identity: The Role of School Ethnic/Racial Diversity.

We frequently encounter situations that require us to place trust in others, often strangers. Trust underpins many forms of social and economic exchange: We must trust that an electrician will install the wiring correctly and safely in our new house or that a taxi driver will take the most direct route to our destination. Even in situations without economic exchange, we rely on trust, whether asking for directions or leaving belongings unattended in public places. Thus, social trust, the belief that others will uphold the trust placed in them, is a critical component of social exchange and a fundamental building block of our social world (–). Often it is difficult to ascertain whether one’s interaction partner can be trusted, especially when they are a stranger. If we have no information about potential partners’ past behaviors in similar situations, we must rely on heuristic shortcuts to decide whom to trust (). Trust decisions are often influenced by easily accessible information about a person that can be determined at first glance, such as their gender, age, race, or looks (, ). One such characteristic that is widely believed to influence expectations of trustworthiness is religiosity (, ). There are several theoretical reasons to expect that religious people may be perceived to be more trustworthy than their less religious peers. First, many religious people adhere to the belief that their actions are being constantly watched by a supernatural entity and, as a result, they may fear divine retribution for dishonesty (, ). Second, religious people may have more opportunities to engage in prosocial behavior due to the involvement of religious communities in charitable work (). These activities not only signal moral commitment but also provide tangible experiences in prosocial behavior and emphasize a greater sense of connectedness and interdependence (). Finally, religious communities may attract inherently more prosocial individuals who seek this environment precisely because they wish to engage in these communities (). By voluntarily associating with religious groups, these individuals reinforce the broader societal perception that religiosity correlates with trustworthiness. Together, these factors suggest that religiosity, whether due to actual behavioral differences or socially constructed expectations, plays a pivotal role in shaping perceptions of trustworthiness.