Do Americans with more close friends trust others more?
Core argument: 59% of Americans with no close friends say most people would try to take advantage of them if given the chance, compared with 29% of Americans reporting at least six close friends.
Americans with more close friends have much higher confidence that people behave fairly in their dealings with others. For instance, nearly six in 10 (59%) Americans with no close friends say that most people would try to take advantage of them if given the chance. Americans with at least six close friends are far less likely to express this view—only 29% say people would try to take this advantage. Most Americans with more close friends believe people generally try to be fair. Similarly, a majority (54%) of Americans with at least six close friends believe that “most of the time people try to help others,” a view shared by only 33% of Americans with no close friends.

