Trust and Commitment Through Self-verification

Stets, Burke

This research examines how self-processes and trust influence the development of commitment in society, thereby making social order possible. The central thesis is that the process of self-verification leads directly and indirectly, through positive emotions and trust, to the development of committed relationships, positive emotional attachments, and a group orientation; all of these are characteristics of a stable social structure. At the same time, self-verification results in the accomplishment of the meaning structures and resource flows that define social structures. In the current study, we test the self-verification-commitment process with respect to the spousal identity for newly married couples during the first three years of their marriage…