Book excerpt: What makes us trust people? How is trust developed and maintained? Is Western society facing a crisis of trust? The Psychology of Trust addresses trust issues that are directly relevant to peoples’ experiences in their daily lives. It identifies the factors that cause people to trust, and the consequences of trust for real world issues in health, politics, terrorism, the workplace, and religious faith. It also explores the impact of a lack of trust, and what causes distrust of individuals, groups and organisations. In a world where trust impacts our daily lives, The Psychology of Trust shows the role trust plays in our relationships, and provides practical guidance regarding our own trust in others.