Distrust is a self-reinforcing, self-fulfilling social dynamic.

Evidence

Someone who sees himself as the object of such expressions of distrust will hardly be disposed to look at himself from the perspective of distrust and seek the cause of it in himself. The distrust remains for him objectively inexplicable, and he therefore attributes it to the person who distrusts him. In so far as he continues the relationship at all, he will respond at first perhaps with explanations, with forbearance, then with caution and finally with distrust himself. He finds himself relieved of moral obligation by the distrust which is brought against him and given the freedom to act in his own interests, or indeed he actually feels the need to revenge himself for this undeserved treatment. And thus he gives distrust additional justification and further nourishment. — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 272 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Distrust functions as an equivalent alternative to trust — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 262; Distrust strategies can become autonomous habitual routines; Distrust becomes socially visible through distrustful behavior — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 271 (+15 more)

Related

• Being distrusted relieves a person of moral obligation and breeds reciprocal distrust. (similarity 0.90)
• Distrust becomes socially visible through distrustful behavior (similarity 0.88)
• In simple societies distrust is itself punished as a breach of law. (similarity 0.88)
• Distrust strategies can become autonomous habitual routines (similarity 0.87)
• Distrust is self-fulfilling and cannot be invalidated by experience (similarity 0.86)
• Justified distrust can be a moral act and so trust is not inherently moral (similarity 0.86)
• Distrust functions as an equivalent alternative to trust (similarity 0.84)
• Distrust arises from inconsistency or symbolic discrediting of trust (similarity 0.82)
• Distrust is self-reinforcing because it selects for untrustworthy partners (similarity 0.82)
• Distrust restricts information so the distruster never learns to distrust less (similarity 0.82)
• Misplaced trust costs far more than forgone trust, making distrust come more quickly (similarity 0.80)
• Organizations require the truster to retain a modicum of distrust (similarity 0.80)
• Distrust needs less information than trust to form. (similarity 0.80)
• Optimism about others’ trustworthiness is self-reinforcing through gained experience (similarity 0.80)
• Systems that need distrust must also neutralize it to survive. (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Being distrusted relieves a person of moral obligation and breeds reciprocal distrust. #expands (0.85) — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 272
• Distrust arises from inconsistency or symbolic discrediting of trust #qualifies (0.60)