The Trust Paradox: Why Believing in Strangers Makes You Happier
Show Notes
One of the largest psychological studies ever conducted — a meta-analysis of nearly 1,000 studies involving more than 2.5 million participants — has revealed something counterintuitive: trusting others, even complete strangers, makes us happier. This episode explores the bidirectional relationship between trust and well-being, examines why this connection varies dramatically across the lifespan, and considers whether our increasingly skeptical modern world may be undermining our happiness.
Sources & References
- The Relationship Between Trust and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis - Journal of Happiness Studies
- The Power of Trust Across Your Lifespan - Greater Good Berkeley
- Higher levels of trust in people and institutions linked to greater well-being - Phys.org
- Trust in others, institutions boosts well-being - APA
- The Power of Passing Encounters: Why Strangers Matter for Well-being - Psychology Today
- This One Trait Can Boost Your Happiness At Any Age, New Study Finds - StudyFinds