Trust is broken. Here’s how we rebuild it

The United States is experiencing a significant decline in public trust across various institutions, mirroring conditions observed in former Eastern Bloc countries where institutional distrust fueled widespread conspiracy theories. A recent Gallup survey revealed alarmingly low trust levels in American institutions, with only 15% of respondents expressing high trust in large corporations, 11% in television news, and a mere 10% in Congress. This erosion of trust is not merely a perceptual issue but represents a fundamental breakdown in societal functionality, as trust is the bedrock of collective action. Without it, societies struggle to agree not only on solutions but also on basic realities, leading to a fractured public discourse.

The article posits that rebuilding trust requires a re-evaluation of how it is created, drawing parallels to the evolutionary origins of religion. Historically, the intellectual consensus suggested religion emerged from superstition, providing a framework for understanding uncontrollable natural forces. However, evolutionary psychologists have challenged this view, highlighting the substantial resource and effort investment in religious practices. They argue that if religion were solely superstition, nonreligious societies should have logically outcompeted religious ones, which historical evidence contradicts. The prevailing evolutionary theory now suggests that religion's primary function was to facilitate collective action. The elaborate rituals, including adornments, chanting, singing, and clapping, served as mechanisms to foster group cohesion and enable coordinated efforts.

This evolutionary perspective on religion's role in enabling collective action offers a crucial insight into rebuilding trust in contemporary society. The shared performance of rituals, whether religious or secular, creates a sense of shared identity and commitment, which are essential components of trust. By understanding that trust is built through shared experiences and collective endeavors, leaders can begin to implement strategies that foster these elements. This involves creating environments where people can engage in meaningful collective activities, thereby strengthening social bonds and re-establishing a foundation of shared reality and mutual reliance. The decline in trust is a critical challenge, but by understanding its deep-rooted origins in human social behavior, pathways to its restoration can be identified and pursued.