psychology of trust

TheThe Psychology of Psychology of

TrustTrustA psychologist’s A psychologist’s

perspective on the perspective on the principles of “Trust” and principles of “Trust” and

“Strengths-Finding”“Strengths-Finding”

From Jim From Jim

““If human beings are perceived as If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, potentials rather than problems,

as possessing strengths instead of as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather weaknesses, as unlimited rather

than dull and unresponsive, than dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their then they thrive and grow to their

capabilities.”capabilities.”

~Barbara ~Barbara Bush Bush

Two Complementary Two Complementary AreasAreas

Positive Psychology-Positive Psychology- is the scientific is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to enable individuals and communities to thrive. Opposite of Clinical Psychology.thrive. Opposite of Clinical Psychology.

This field is founded on the belief that This field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives , to cultivate what is best fulfilling lives , to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.experiences of love, work, and play.

Two Complementary Two Complementary AreasAreas

Interpersonal Psychology-Interpersonal Psychology- is the is the scientific study of persons interacting scientific study of persons interacting with other persons. It posits that with other persons. It posits that within each person are dynamic within each person are dynamic motives, partly unconscious, motives, partly unconscious, energizing his/her behavior.energizing his/her behavior.

This field looks at human interaction This field looks at human interaction through personality typology (i.e. through personality typology (i.e. MMPI), communication styles, human MMPI), communication styles, human needs.needs.

Psychoanalysis: Freud & the Psychoanalysis: Freud & the PsychePsyche

Freud proposed three structures of the Freud proposed three structures of the psyche or personality.psyche or personality. Id:Id: a selfish, primitive, childish, pleasure- a selfish, primitive, childish, pleasure-

oriented part of the personality with no oriented part of the personality with no ability to delay gratificationability to delay gratification

Ego:Ego: the moderator between the id and the moderator between the id and superego which seeks compromises to pacify superego which seeks compromises to pacify both. It can be viewed as our “Sense of Self”.both. It can be viewed as our “Sense of Self”.

Superego:Superego: internalized societal and parental internalized societal and parental standards of “good” and “bad” & “right” and standards of “good” and “bad” & “right” and “wrong” behavior.“wrong” behavior.

Psyche Structures: A Psyche Structures: A VisualVisual

Freudian/Psychoanalytic Freudian/Psychoanalytic PrinciplesPrinciples

Defense Mechanisms-Defense Mechanisms- Psychological Psychological strategies brought into play by strategies brought into play by various entities to cope with reality various entities to cope with reality and to maintain self-image.and to maintain self-image.


Level I: Psychotic Defenses:Level I: Psychotic Defenses: Almost always Almost always pathological, theses defenses permit one pathological, theses defenses permit one to rearrange external reality and therefore to rearrange external reality and therefore not have to cope with it. They are common not have to cope with it. They are common in overt psychosis, in dreams, and in overt psychosis, in dreams, and throughout childhood.throughout childhood. Denial:Denial: Refusal to accept external reality Refusal to accept external reality

because it is too threatening.because it is too threatening. Distortion:Distortion: A gross reshaping of external A gross reshaping of external

reality to meet internal needs.reality to meet internal needs. Delusional Projection:Delusional Projection: Grossly frank delusions Grossly frank delusions

about external reality, usually of a persecutory about external reality, usually of a persecutory nature.nature.


More Level II Defense Mechanisms:More Level II Defense Mechanisms: Passive Aggression:Passive Aggression: Aggression toward others Aggression toward others

expressed indirectly or passively.expressed indirectly or passively.

Acting Out:Acting Out: Direct expression of an Direct expression of an unconscious wish or impulse without unconscious wish or impulse without conscious awareness of the emotion that conscious awareness of the emotion that drives that expressive behavior.drives that expressive behavior.

Idealization:Idealization: Subconsciously choosing to Subconsciously choosing to perceive another individual as having more perceive another individual as having more positive qualities than he/she may actually positive qualities than he/she may actually have.have.


Level III DM’s: Neurotic DefensesLevel III DM’s: Neurotic Defenses: : Common in everyone, but clearly not Common in everyone, but clearly not optimal for coping with reality since optimal for coping with reality since they lead to problems in they lead to problems in relationships, work, and enjoying life.relationships, work, and enjoying life.

Displacement:Displacement: The shifting of sexual or The shifting of sexual or aggressive impulses to a more acceptable or aggressive impulses to a more acceptable or less threatening target; redirecting emotion to less threatening target; redirecting emotion to a safer outlet—allowing the person to not deal a safer outlet—allowing the person to not deal directly with the object of their For example, a directly with the object of their For example, a mother may yell at her child because she is mother may yell at her child because she is angry at her husband.angry at her husband.


IsolationIsolation:: Separation of feelings from ideas and Separation of feelings from ideas and events, for example, describing a murder with events, for example, describing a murder with graphic details and no emotional response.graphic details and no emotional response.

Reaction Formation:Reaction Formation: Converting unconscious Converting unconscious wishes or impulses that are perceived to be wishes or impulses that are perceived to be dangerous into their opposites; behavior that is dangerous into their opposites; behavior that is completely the opposite of what one really completely the opposite of what one really wants or feels; taking the opposite belief wants or feels; taking the opposite belief because the true on causes anxiety. This because the true on causes anxiety. This defense can work effectively for coping in the defense can work effectively for coping in the short-term but will eventually break down.short-term but will eventually break down.


Dissociation:Dissociation: Temporary drastic Temporary drastic modification of one’s personal identity or modification of one’s personal identity or character to avoid emotional distress; character to avoid emotional distress; separation or postponement of a feeling separation or postponement of a feeling that normally would accompany a that normally would accompany a situation or thought.situation or thought.

Intellectualization:Intellectualization: A form of isolation; A form of isolation; concentrating on the intellectual concentrating on the intellectual components of a situation so as to components of a situation so as to distance oneself from the associated distance oneself from the associated anxiety-provoking emotions.anxiety-provoking emotions.


Repression:Repression: Process of pulling thoughts into the Process of pulling thoughts into the unconscious and preventing painful or unconscious and preventing painful or dangerous thoughts from entering dangerous thoughts from entering consciousness; seemingly unexplainable naivety, consciousness; seemingly unexplainable naivety, memory lapse or lack of awareness of one’s own memory lapse or lack of awareness of one’s own situation and condition; the emotion is situation and condition; the emotion is conscious, but the idea behind it is absent.conscious, but the idea behind it is absent.

Regression:Regression: Temporary reversion of the ego to Temporary reversion of the ego to and earlier stage of development rather than and earlier stage of development rather than handling unacceptable impulses in and adult handling unacceptable impulses in and adult way (i.e., mid-life crisis)way (i.e., mid-life crisis)


Level IV DM’s: Mature Defenses:Level IV DM’s: Mature Defenses: Used Used by “healthy” adults, they optimize by “healthy” adults, they optimize one’s ability to have normal one’s ability to have normal relationships, enjoy work, and take relationships, enjoy work, and take pleasure in life.pleasure in life. Altruism:Altruism: Constructive service to others that Constructive service to others that

brings pleasure and personal satisfaction brings pleasure and personal satisfaction (example, John Walsh). (example, John Walsh).

Anticipation:Anticipation: Realistic planning for future Realistic planning for future discomfort (i.e., an upcoming surgery, etc).discomfort (i.e., an upcoming surgery, etc).

Humor:Humor: Overt expression of ideas and feelings Overt expression of ideas and feelings (especially those that are unpleasant to focus (especially those that are unpleasant to focus on or too terrible to talk about) that gives on or too terrible to talk about) that gives pleasure to others.pleasure to others.


Sublimation:Sublimation: Transformation of Transformation of negative emotions or instincts into negative emotions or instincts into positive actions, behavior, or positive actions, behavior, or emotion.emotion.

Suppression:Suppression: The The conscious conscious decisiondecision to delay paying attention to to delay paying attention to an emotion or need in order to cope an emotion or need in order to cope with the present reality; able to later with the present reality; able to later access the emotion and accept it.access the emotion and accept it.

Psychoanalytic Psychoanalytic Principles, cont.Principles, cont.

Transference:Transference: is a psychological is a psychological phenomenon characterized by phenomenon characterized by unconscious redirection of feelings of unconscious redirection of feelings of one person to another. For instance, one one person to another. For instance, one could mistrust somebody who resembles could mistrust somebody who resembles an ex-spouse in manners, voice, external an ex-spouse in manners, voice, external appearance; or be overly compliant to appearance; or be overly compliant to someone who resembles a childhood someone who resembles a childhood friend.friend.

Can be both conscious, pre-conscious, Can be both conscious, pre-conscious, and unconscious.and unconscious.


Projection:Projection: (aka, “Projection Bias”) is a defense (aka, “Projection Bias”) is a defense mechanism in which one attributes (“projects”) mechanism in which one attributes (“projects”) to others one’s own unacceptable or unwanted to others one’s own unacceptable or unwanted thoughts and/or emotions. Projection reduces thoughts and/or emotions. Projection reduces anxiety by allowing the expression of the anxiety by allowing the expression of the unwanted subconscious impulses/desires unwanted subconscious impulses/desires without letting the ego recognize them.without letting the ego recognize them.

In other words, you are projecting your own In other words, you are projecting your own feelings, emotions or motivations onto another feelings, emotions or motivations onto another person without realizing your reaction is really person without realizing your reaction is really more about you than it is about the other more about you than it is about the other person.person.


Some Examples:Some Examples: Transferrence:Transferrence: Your job may be “the Your job may be “the

family reunion” you are avoiding and family reunion” you are avoiding and you are forced to go to each day.”you are forced to go to each day.”

Projection:Projection: Your girlfriend may Your girlfriend may remind you of all the irritating things remind you of all the irritating things your mother did to you when you your mother did to you when you were growing up. “Love at first sight” were growing up. “Love at first sight” is usually a projection.is usually a projection.

A Social Psychological A Social Psychological ConstructConstruct

Cognitive dissonanceCognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. The "ideas" or ideas simultaneously. The "ideas" or "cognitions" in question may include "cognitions" in question may include attitudes and beliefs, and also the awareness attitudes and beliefs, and also the awareness of one's behavior. The theory of cognitive of one's behavior. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance by motivational drive to reduce dissonance by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and changing their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, or by behaviors, or by justifying or rationalizingjustifying or rationalizing their attitudes, beliefs, and their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviorsbehaviors..[[

Erikson’s Stage 1: Trust vs. Erikson’s Stage 1: Trust vs. MistrustMistrust

I am what I am given…I am what I am given… “ “Mama? Papa?”Mama? Papa?”

An infant is helpless. He is totally dependent An infant is helpless. He is totally dependent on others for his needs. During this stage, the on others for his needs. During this stage, the infant learns whether the world in which he infant learns whether the world in which he lives can be trusted. When he is hungry and lives can be trusted. When he is hungry and cries, will he be fed? When he is unwell for cries, will he be fed? When he is unwell for afraid, will he be comforted?afraid, will he be comforted?

Stage 1: Trust vs. Stage 1: Trust vs. MistrustMistrust

If an infant’s physical and emotional needs If an infant’s physical and emotional needs are met in a consistent and caring way, he are met in a consistent and caring way, he learns that his mother or caregiver can be learns that his mother or caregiver can be counted on and he develops and attitude counted on and he develops and attitude of trust in people. If his needs are not met, of trust in people. If his needs are not met, an infant may become fearful and learns an infant may become fearful and learns not to trust the people around him. not to trust the people around him.

Can lead to life-long trust issues such as Can lead to life-long trust issues such as Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) in Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) in extreme cases.extreme cases.

Stage 2: Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame & Autonomy vs. Shame &

DoubtDoubt I am what I can do…I am what I can do… “ “Up, Up and Away!!”Up, Up and Away!!”

The toddler realizes that he is a separate The toddler realizes that he is a separate person with this own desires and abilities. He person with this own desires and abilities. He wants to do things for himself without help or wants to do things for himself without help or hindrance from other people. The toddler’s hindrance from other people. The toddler’s favorite word “No” is a declaration of favorite word “No” is a declaration of independence and a bid for increased independence and a bid for increased autonomy. autonomy.

Autonomy vs. Shame & Autonomy vs. Shame & DoubtDoubt

Parents have to balance the opposing Parents have to balance the opposing virtues of encouragement and restraint. If virtues of encouragement and restraint. If a toddler’s efforts to do things are his own a toddler’s efforts to do things are his own were frustrated by over-protective parents were frustrated by over-protective parents then he may not have many opportunities then he may not have many opportunities to develop autonomy. On the other hand, if to develop autonomy. On the other hand, if a toddler was harshly criticized for a toddler was harshly criticized for “accidents” (e.g., wetting, soiling, “accidents” (e.g., wetting, soiling, spilling/breaking things) then he may spilling/breaking things) then he may develop doubt about his own abilities to develop doubt about his own abilities to tackle new challenges.tackle new challenges.

Stage 3: Initiative vs. Stage 3: Initiative vs. GuiltGuilt

I am what I imagine…I am what I imagine…

Parents who take time to answer their Parents who take time to answer their preschoolers' questions reinforce their preschoolers' questions reinforce their intellectual initiative. But parents who see their intellectual initiative. But parents who see their children's questions as a nuisance may stifle children's questions as a nuisance may stifle their initiative and cause them to be too their initiative and cause them to be too dependent on others and to be ashamed of dependent on others and to be ashamed of themselves.themselves.

It is also during this stage that a rudimentary It is also during this stage that a rudimentary conscienceconscience emerges, regulating their initiative emerges, regulating their initiative and imagination. His behavior is guided by and imagination. His behavior is guided by concept of "right" and "wrong" as spelt out by concept of "right" and "wrong" as spelt out by his parents. If the parents' expectations are his parents. If the parents' expectations are unrealistic or if they punish him too severely unrealistic or if they punish him too severely for his mistakes then he may develop an for his mistakes then he may develop an oppressive burden of guilt. oppressive burden of guilt.

Stage 4: Industry vs. Stage 4: Industry vs. InferiorityInferiority

I am what I can achieve…I am what I can achieve… ““Scared of School?”Scared of School?”

The child soon learns that he can win The child soon learns that he can win recognition from parents, teachers and peers by recognition from parents, teachers and peers by being proficient in his school work. The being proficient in his school work. The attitudes and opinions of others become attitudes and opinions of others become important. The school plays a major role in the important. The school plays a major role in the resolution of the developmental crisis of resolution of the developmental crisis of initiative versus inferiority.initiative versus inferiority.

Stage 4: Industry vs. Stage 4: Industry vs. InferiorityInferiority

Children who cannot master their school Children who cannot master their school work may consider themselves a failure work may consider themselves a failure and feelings of inferiority may arise.and feelings of inferiority may arise.

A child may also feel a sense of shame if A child may also feel a sense of shame if his parents (and/or others important to his parents (and/or others important to him) unthinkingly share his "failures" with him) unthinkingly share his "failures" with others. Shame stems from a sense of self-others. Shame stems from a sense of self-exposure, a feeling that one's deficiencies exposure, a feeling that one's deficiencies are exposed to others.are exposed to others.

psychology of trust

Technology

copewith reality

human needs

wrong behavior

expressive behavior

psyche freud

energizing hisher behavior

psychotic defenses

theses defenses