Homo economicus belief inhibits trust.
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 24146907.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0076671 and PMC identifier PMC3153434.
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Abstract
As a foundational concept in economics, the homo economicus assumption regards humans as rational and self-interested actors. In contrast, trust requires individuals to believe partners' benevolence and unselfishness. Thus, the homo economicus belief may inhibit trust. The present three experiments demonstrated that the direct exposure to homo economicus belief can weaken trust. And economic situations like profit calculation can also activate individuals' homo economicus belief and inhibit their trust. It seems that people's increasing homo economicus belief may serve as one cause of the worldwide decline of trust.