Anxiety, In-group Identification, And Depersonalized Trust

In a previous study, we (Kenworthy & Jones, 2008) examined the effect of induced anxiety on depersonalized in-group trust within low and high importance groups. We found that the anxiety induction increased depersonalized in-group trust within high importance groups, but did not do so within low importance groups. Further, self-reported anxiety scores mediated the relationship between the emotion induction and depersonalized trust in high importance groups. Taking a social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1986) approach, I replicated Kenworthy and Jones (2008) with a different anxiety induction, and with the addition of risk-aversion as potentially mediating the relationship between anxiety and trust. Anxiety was manipulated using a film clip that was found, in a pilot study, to elicit such a state. I then measured risk tendencies and depersonalized in-group trust. Risk was not correlated with depersonalized trust. Therefore, I found no meditational results with regard to risk. I found that individuals, who highly identified with their ethnic in-group, while in an anxious state, displayed more depersonalized trust than those who did not identify with their in-group. Implications of this experiment may help to understand individuals' willingness to trust others when experiencing anxiety.