Assess Yourself 7: Interpersonal Trust Scale

Indicate the degree to which you agree or disagree with each statement by the following scale:

1 = strongly agree
2 = mildly agree
3 = agree and disagree equally
4 = mildly disagree
5 = strongly disagree

Once you have completed the 25 items, click CALCULATE.

  1 2 3 4 5
1. Hypocrisy is on the increase in our society.
2. One is better off being cautious when dealing with strangers until they have provided evidence that they are trustworthy.
3. This country has a dark future unless we can attract better people into politics.
4. Fear and social disgrace or punishment rather than conscience prevents most people from breaking the law.
5. An honor system in which teachers would not be present during exams would probably result in increased cheating.
6. Parents usually can be relied on to keep their promises.
7. The United Nations will never be an effective force in keeping world peace.
8. The judiciary is a place where we can all get unbiased treatment.
9. Most people would be horrified if they knew how much of the news that the public hears and sees is distorted.
10. It is safe to believe that in spite of what people say most people are primarily interested in their own welfare.
11. Even though we have reports in newspapers, radio, TV, and the Internet, it is hard to get objective accounts of public events.
12. The future seems very promising.
13. If we really knew what was going on in international politics, the public would have reason to be more frightened than they now seem to be.
14. Most elected officials are really sincere in their campaign promises.
15. Many major national sports contests are fixed in one way or another.
16. Most experts can be relied upon to tell the truth about the limits of their knowledge.
17. Most parents can be relied upon to carry out their threats of punishments.
18. Most people can be counted on to do what they say they will do.
19. In these competitive times one has to be alert or someone is likely to take advantage of you.
20. Most idealists are sincere and usually practice what they preach.
21. Most salesmen are honest in describing their products.
22. Most students in school would not cheat even if they were sure they could get away with it.
23. Most repairmen will not overcharge, even if they think you are ignorant of their specialty.
24. A large share of accident claims filed against insurance companies are phony.
25. Most people answer public opinion polls honestly.


*This scale can be obtained from Dr. J. B. Rotter, Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06268. This scale was published in: Robinson, J. P., Shaver, P. R., & Wrightsman, L. S. (1991). Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes. San Diego: Academic Press.