Shared familiarity can rival kinship as a basis of trust

Evidence

Fortes (1969) argued that kinship carries an ‘axiom of amity’ and perhaps it does; but another Tallensi proverb says maalong gaat soog ‘familiarity is better than kinship’ (literally ‘making sweet’, the experience of being treated well). — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 2397

Categorization

• XREF: This colloquial Tallensi proverb maps onto the reader’s core contrast between familiarity-type trust and status-obligation kinship in Luhmann’s framework.
• DEFINE: Clarifies ‘familiarity’ — the experience of being treated well through repeated chosen encounter.