Trustworthiness persists only while future gains from the relationship outweigh defection

Evidence

Trust is often achieved simply by the continuity of the relation between parties and the recognition by each that what he might gain by cheating in a given instance is outweighed by the value of the tradition of trust that makes possible a long sequence of future agreement. By the same token, “trust” may be achieved for a single discontinuous instance, if it can be divided into a succession of increments. — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 311 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Trustworthiness collapses once a relationship’s end becomes foreseeable; Repeated-interaction gains let trust outweigh distrust despite occasional great losses — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 311; Trustworthiness is grounded in the trusted’s interest in maintaining a relationship (+4 more)

Related

• Repeated-interaction gains let trust outweigh distrust despite occasional great losses (similarity 0.90)
• Optimism about others’ trustworthiness is self-reinforcing through gained experience (similarity 0.88)
• Cost-driven market ties evolve into trust-laden partnerships over time (similarity 0.85)
• Repeated interaction transforms the incentives of a one-way trust game (similarity 0.85)
• Trust requires time for repeated interactions and is a cognitive capacity (similarity 0.83)
• Individual-level rational-choice accounts of trust fail as general explanations (similarity 0.83)
• Trustworthiness needs no moral groundings to sustain trust (similarity 0.83)
• Trustworthiness is grounded in the trusted’s interest in maintaining a relationship (similarity 0.83)
• Trustworthiness begets trust via reputation and repeated dealings (similarity 0.83)
• A continuing relationship functions as a forfeitable bond against cheating. (similarity 0.82)
• Trust only arises where opportunistic behavior is genuinely possible (similarity 0.82)
• Infinite repetition sustains honest exchange without any binding commitment (similarity 0.82)
• Failed trust is answered with still more trust, not less. (similarity 0.82)
• Trust relationships self-maintain once the parties recognize mutual benefit (similarity 0.82)
• Faithfulness is the inertia that sustains relations after their occasion passes (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Trustworthiness is grounded in the trusted’s interest in maintaining a relationship #expands (0.95)
• Trustworthiness collapses once a relationship’s end becomes foreseeable #expands (0.92)
• Repeated-interaction gains let trust outweigh distrust despite occasional great losses #complicates (0.78) — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 311