Press Release 05-112
Gender Influences Decisions About Trust

Men value group ties, women favor personal connections

Men tend to trust strangers that are members of a group. Women favor personal connections. Credit and Larger Version

July 7, 2005

According to an Ohio State University research team led by Marilynn Brewer, men and women weigh different factors when deciding which strangers they can trust. Men tend to trust strangers that share membership in a group or club with them, while women are more likely to trust those with personal ties--such as friends of friends.

The conclusions were based on a study published in the current issue of Group Processes and Intergroup Relations.

The results could help researchers better understand how social and cultural differences impact group dynamics and social interactions.

"Trust is a fundamental component of social interaction, whether between individuals, between organizations, or between countries," says NSF program manager Amber Story. "This research is innovative in that it links the processes involved in the decision to trust to the ways in which men and women define who they are and what groups they belong to."

The National Science Foundation and the Russell Sage Foundation funded the study.

For more details, see the Ohio State University Press Release.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
Nicole Mahoney, NSF (703) 292-5321 nmahoney@nsf.gov

Principal Investigators
Amber L. Story, NSF (703) 292-7249 astory@nsf.gov

Co-Investigators
Marilynn B. Brewer, Ohio State University (614) 292-9640 brewer64@osu.edu

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, its budget is $9.5 billion, which includes $3.0 billion provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 44,400 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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