The sophisticated human capacity for trust is our crowning evolutionary achievement that makes social life and long-lasting relationships and institutions possible. This cutting-edge volume provides a comprehensive overview of the psychology of trust, featuring leading international researchers who have done ground-breaking work on the origins, nature, characteristics and consequences of trust.

The chapters examine the evolutionary, historical, social, cultural and psychological origins of trust. The role of cognitive, motivational and affective processes influencing trust are discussed, and the current crisis of trust in Western liberal democracies receives special attention, representing a serious challenge to the survival of liberal democratic societies built on the enlightenment values of rationalism, individualism, humanism, and tolerance.

Exploring one of the most intriguing psychological issues that shapes human social life, this book will be of interest both to a lay audience, as well as students and researchers interested in all areas relevant to the relationship between human psychology and the social and cultural processes that define our civilization.