Not Trusting Others Farther Than We Could Throw 'em takes

Surveys routinely find people crediting themselves with higher-than-average moral standards. It sounds like boastfulness on the part of respondents, but may instead reflect their suspicions that other peoples’ standards are abysmally low. Numerous respondents to a survey conducted for the Pew Internet & American Life Project certainly look askance at others. In the chart below, note that respondents were passing judgment on “Most people.” It wouldn’t be particularly surprising to see four in 10 folks saying “many” people would try to take advantage of them, but it’s stunning that so many are so suspicious of “most” of their fellow human beings.