Rotter.A new scale for the measurement of interpersonal trust英文资料.pdf

A new scale for the measurement of
interpersonal trust^
Julian B. Rotter, University of Connecticut
One of the most salient factors m the effectiveness of our
plex anization is the willmgness of one or
more mdividuals m a social unit to trust others The efiSciency,
adjustment, and even survival of any social group depends upon
the presence or absence of such trust.
Interpersonal trust is defined here as an expectancy held by
an mdividual or a group that the word, promise, verbal or wntten
statement of another individual or group can be relied upon.
This definition clearly departs significantly from Enkson's ( 1953)
broad use of the concept of basic trust which Enkson bes
as a cential ingredient m "the healthy personality "
Vanous wnters have already mdicated that a high expectancy
that others can be relied upon is an important variable in the
development of adequate family relationships and of healthy
personahties in children The failure to trust others, particularly
representatives of society, such as parents, teachers, and powerful
community leaders, has frequently been cited as an important
determmant m delmquency (Redi & Wmeman, 1951) DifiB-
culties m race relationships and m mmonty group-majonty group
relationships have, likewise, been frequently related to expec-
tancies of one group that the verbal statements of the other
cannot be accepted Many psychotherapists believe interpersonal
trust is a major determinant in the ess of psychotherapy In
fact, an expectancy that others can be believed must be an
important variable m human leammg in general Much of the
formal and informal learning that human bemgs acquire is based
on the verbal and wntten statements of others, and what they
leam must be significantly affected by the degree to which they
believe their informants without independent evidence.
1 This investigation was supported by a grant from the National Institute
of Mental Health (MH 11455)
652 Juli