Trust only arises where opportunistic behavior is genuinely possible

Evidence

If we may now generalize, it is clear that such learning processes are only complete when the person to be trusted has had opportunities to betray that trust and has not used them. It is impossible to eliminate this risk during the process of learning. It can, however, be divided up into small stages and thereby minimized. — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 203 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

In these conflicts, between the jester Rigoletto and the Duke of Mantua and between Iago and his general, Othello, the weaker men turn on the more powerful. That we might not trust those who have power over us, especially when they have little reason to care for us individually, is no surprise. I depend heavily on your favor, while you depend not at all on mine. You can therefore do me substantial harm, while I can do you little or none. The mutual trust that depends on reciprocal relations cannot easily develop in such unequal, nonreciprocal contexts. — Russell Hardin, Trust and Trustworthiness, 477 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Trustworthiness enforced only by contract threats is not genuine trust; Trust and distrust are each functional only in matching worlds; Functional trust cannot generate itself without imposed initial conditions — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 1665 (+4 more)

Related

• Trust requires genuine vulnerability and the partner’s real interest in betraying it (similarity 0.88)
• Trust is proven only through unused opportunities to betray (similarity 0.87)
• Trust is not chosen, a gamble, or an investment; only actions are (similarity 0.86)
• Optimism about others’ trustworthiness is self-reinforcing through gained experience (similarity 0.84)
• No consistent analytical case exists for trust beyond encapsulated interest (similarity 0.84)
• Trusting action increases one’s vulnerability to another whose behavior is uncontrolled (similarity 0.84)
• Mutual trust cannot develop in unequal, nonreciprocal power relations (similarity 0.84)
• Trust is expectation formed before the other’s action can be monitored (similarity 0.83)
• Failed trust is answered with still more trust, not less. (similarity 0.83)
• Building mutual trust requires confronting risk rather than avoiding it (similarity 0.83)
• Trust can be extended to create an obligation in the trusted (similarity 0.83)
• Trust only matters when one’s best strategy depends on another’s actions (similarity 0.83)
• Trust cannot be demanded but only offered through vulnerability (similarity 0.82)
• Trustworthiness persists only while future gains from the relationship outweigh defection (similarity 0.82)
• Being trustworthy carries no risk while being trusting exposes one to exploitation (similarity 0.82)

Broader Connections

• Trust is proven only through unused opportunities to betray #exemplifies (0.90) — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 203
• Trust requires belief in the other’s motivations, not mere behavioral expectation #expands (0.75)
• Mutual trust cannot develop in unequal, nonreciprocal power relations #expands (0.75) — Russell Hardin, Trust and Trustworthiness, 477