13 types of trust, characteristics and examples

The different types of trust that human beings build map their psychological well-being, given that this nuclear and luminous construct is an emotional component capable of offering a pleasant feeling of control. Trust involves, for example, navigating various social and emotional relationships safely, without feeling like they will betray you.

Likewise, confidence is valuing yourself as a person, to feel that you are competent and that, thanks to your abilities, you will achieve part of your dreams. Therefore, nothing is as necessary for your psychosocial balance as personal determination. We describe here some useful categories to list the types of trust.

The different types of trust

We can define trust as the belief that some processes, situations and relationships will always act to one’s benefit. It is a neuroemotional procedure that creates a series of representations about how different elements of our existence should develop: people, society, work, destiny, oneself, etc.

Likewise, it is necessary to highlight that If there is something our brain needs to guarantee our well-being, it is to experience this sensation in your day to day life. If this fails, we are assaulted by stress and uncertainty, we feel insecure and also very vulnerable. It’s as if part of our emotional foundations are collapsing.

In this regard, a work published by The Journal of Neuroscience indicates that Reciprocity and taking on common challenges with other people builds the perception of trust.

Thus, when this happens, greater activity is seen in areas such as the ventral striatum and the medial prefrontal cortex. These regions are linked to our social reward system. Therefore, the sensations experienced through trust are quite enriching.

Let’s see immediately what rewarding experiences we can feel thanks to the different types of trust.

1. Trust in others

You experience trust in others when you share your fears, needs and desires with them. The moment you place your security in your partner, you do so knowing that you will not be betrayed, hurt, and that the bond created between two will be respected. That emotional opening that we make to others is an act of courage and also of well-being.

Likewise, it must be kept in mind that The most meaningful and enriching social ties are those that are built with trust. Consequently, we need to trust our family, friends and partner to, in addition to feeling safe, have that essential psychoaffective refuge in our daily lives.

2. Self-confidence

On the journey of life and self-realization you will not go anywhere if you do not have adequate self-confidence. That consists of validating your skills and competencies to know that you are capable of achieving your objectives. It is an internal force that guides you and allows you to progress in your work and relationships, as it allows you to visualize yourself as someone skilled and worthy of achieving what you want.

For example, self-confidence is key in the sports world. Thanks to it, athletes excel and improve their performance.

3. Emotional trust

Among the different types of trust, it is important to talk about the one that has to do with your emotions. Emotional self-confidence makes you a person who understands and knows how to regulate their emotions in their daily lives. Through this skill, your well-being and personal development are optimized in multiple ways. We offer you some examples of this:

You relate better. You boost your motivation. You make better decisions. You can regulate states such as stress and anxiety. You communicate better by regulating your nerves and thinking more clearly.

4. Behavioral trust

Do you trust your own reactions? Are you a person who knows how to control yourself or who always reacts on impulse? Imagine that you find yourself at a life crossroads: you were offered a good job in another city and you would have to change your place of residence. If you are a person who trusts his reactions and behaviors, you will be guided by your instinct.

However, if you are very impulsive, you will doubt yourself. Knowing that we act in an adjusted manner to the demands of the environment also guarantees our well-being.

5. Social trust

Social trust has to do with the perception we have towards the different organisms that make up our society. This is a complex dimension, because it encompasses multiple spheres. Some of them are the following:

WorkCultureJusticePoliticsEducationTechnologyPublic services

In this sense, It is common that your trust towards the different organizations that make up the social fabric is very varied. But harboring a positive outlook also allows you to function better as a citizen. It involves knowing that you will not be harmed.

For example, a work published by the magazine Frontiers in Psychology emphasizes that trust can be a powerful social resource in the place where you work.

6. Innate trust

People are biologically programmed to trust each other and this process is called innate trust. Let us think that without this exceptional psychic tendon we would not build relationships between us to advance as a species, because distrust is accompanied by fear and hostility, dimensions that trace distances and not closeness.

Consequently, Every child who enters the world does so with a neuro-emotional foundation that will encourage them to build bonds of trust. with its environment. Later, if those attachment figures validate your needs, you will continue to apply this dimension with more people you meet. If it is damaged, things change, as the gap of mistrust will open.

7. Learned trust

Let’s think about that child who, thanks to his parents, develops healthy confidence. The next step is to open up to his social environment. Learned trust will be integrated into every interaction, friendship, partner, and person you meet. This psychological construct is like a muscle: it expands through positive and valuable participation.

8. Instrumental trust

Among the types of trust, it is necessary to highlight one that delves into the darkest psychology. That has an instrumental purpose and can be adopted as a manipulative technique, aimed at getting something from others.

A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology highlights that a frequent resource in this sense is the technique known as “charm”, which consists of connect emotionally with someone, gain their trust and, then, obtain what you want from the victim. These are harmful behaviors that narcissists generally carry out.

There are people who apply instrumental trust. That is, they gain the trust of others to achieve something.

9. Overconfidence

Have you ever met someone who trusts others too much? This is a behavior that appears frequently and is known as excessive trust, which can trigger heartbreak, betrayal and disappointment. It occurs for several reasons and manifests itself through situations, such as the ones we present below:

Revealing intimate aspects to people we have just met. Placing excessively high and illusory expectations on others. Taking for granted that certain figures who have just come into our lives will support us in any situation. Excessive trust also appears in personalities who take too much on themselves. freedoms with others, as they are invasive, annoying and disturb our intimate spaces.

10. Trust violated

If there is a painful experience for human beings, it is the breaking of trust in a personal bond. They are processes that, at times, are traumatic. Let’s think about betrayals between couples, families or even between friends. They are experiences of great emotional charge.

In research published by the journal PNAS It is indicated that, in general, violating trust has very different consequences, depending on the nature of the relationship and the act carried out. In any case, nothing is as complicated as regaining trust in someone when it has been broken.

11. Spiritual confidence

A significant part of the population practices some religion or defines itself as a spiritual person. This is a dimension that in psychology we cannot ignore. Often, in the most adverse times, The fact of trusting in some deity or transcendental concept gives strength and motivation to the person.

People who suffer from depression no longer trust that the future will bring them something positive. They only see catastrophes. This reminds us of the importance of looking to the future with good doses of this dimension of trust.

12. Trust towards social values

Every society is based on basic values, such as justice, equality, freedom, etc. Part of our well-being and psychosocial functioning is also nourished by trust towards those dimensions in which a State stands.

There are countries that defend some values ​​and apply others, and this, ultimately, substantially affects the quality of life of their citizens. An example of this are nations dominated by authoritarian governments.

13. Trust in destiny

This information is interesting and worth taking into account. Trusting in destiny and that the future will be positive for you is a pillar for your mental balance. People need to look to tomorrow with hope, trust that what the future brings us is something for our benefit and not something that acts against us.

An example of this is an event that frequently manifests itself in psychological practice, through people who deal with major depression and, because of this, look to tomorrow with great fear and restlessness. They do not trust themselves and even less in what the future may bring them.

Types of trust are a basis for our happiness

At this point we are sure that you will have sensed the great value that cultivating trust in many of its forms has for human beings. It is the substrate of our psychological well-being. Furthermore, it is that glue that nourishes relationships and allows us to see ourselves as people who trust themselves to conquer their dreams.

Do not hesitate, exercise this wonderful dimension daily and you will discover that it is one of the links that brings you closest to happiness, because there is nothing better than feeling that we can trust those around us and the world that contains us.

You might be interested…