The Differential Effects of Anger on Trust: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Effects of Gender and Social Distance

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Keshun Zhang¹  Thomas Goetz³  Fadong Chen⁴  Anna Sverdlik⁵ 

[1] Department of Psychology, Qingdao Psychological and Mental Health Research Institute, Qingdao University;Graduate School of Decision Sciences, University of Konstanz;Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna;Neuromanagement Lab, School of Management, Zhejiang University;Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University

关键词: trust;    anger;    gender;    social distance;    cross-cultural;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.597436

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Accumulating empirical evidence suggests that anger elicited in one situation can influence trust behaviors in another situation. However, the conditions under which anger influences trust are still unclear. The present study addresses this research gap and examines the ways in which anger influences trust. We hypothesized that the social distance to the trustee, and the trusting person’s gender would moderate the effect of anger on trust. To test this hypothesis, a study using a 2 (Anger vs. Control) × 2 (Low vs. High social distance) × 2 (Men vs. Women) factorial design was conducted in Germany ( N = 215) and in China ( N = 310). Results reveal that in both countries men’s trust behavior was not influenced by the manipulations (i.e., anger and social distance). The pattern for women, however, differed by country. In Germany, women’s trust to a stranger (i.e., high social distance) was increased by anger; while in China, women’s trust to someone who they have communicated with (i.e., low social distance) was increased by anger. These results indicate that women’s trust levels seem to be more context-sensitive than men’s.

【 授权许可】

CC BY