The Neurobiology of Trust

Paul Zak authored an interesting article in the June, 2008, Scientific American in which he examines the issue of trust in relation to how our brains work.

Certainly, nothing is more critical than the presence of trust in individual relationships and organizations. We need only look at public survey after survey to see how the level of trust for both business and political leaders has declined.

In the past few years, we've uncovered how the human brain determines when to trust someone. Scientists now point to a simple molecule--oxytocin--as a major player. This research began when economists at the World Bank wanted to understand how trust was given and received. In laboratory experiments volunteers received oxytocin. Compared to the control group who did not, the experimental subjects exhibited more trusting and generous behavior.

Measuring brain activity during the trust exercises showed that trusting a stranger produces strong activity in the deep mid-brain region where we find another strong influence over behavior, dopamine. Research has shown that people suffering from autism, have low oxytocin levels, as do people suffering from brain lesions, schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's and severe anxiety disorder.

Oxytocin has been found to interact with other hormones and neurotransmitters suggesting that both physiological and environmental cues drive our desire to interact socially, and that certain social experiences involving trust may "retune" the oxytocin "set point."

When we experience a safe, nurturing and loving environment it may stimulate the release of more oxytocin and reciprocate trust.  In contrast, stress, uncertainty and isolation work against the development of a trusting disposition and depress oxytocin levels.

As a footnote to the interesting research, the study shows certain countries such as Norway, Denmark and Australia are significantly higher than the U.S. with respect to the percentage of the population who think that most people are trustworthy. 

Ray Williams is Co-Founder of Success IQ University, and President of Ray Williams Associates, companies located in Phoenix and Vancouver, providing leadership development, personal growth and executive coaching services. www.successiqu.com