#Trust

Travel in Asia is entering a new era where artificial intelligence is no longer a curiosity but a driving force behind how people plan, decide, and experience journeys. A recent discussion gathering four voices from across Asia’s travel ecosystem highlights a global shift toward AI-powered personalization, coupled with a fierce appetite for trustworthy, authentic experiences. The takeaway for Thai readers is clear: the next generation of travel will be defined not only by clever algorithms but by how well those algorithms respect local cultures, protect privacy, and preserve the human touches that travelers value.

A new Washington Post–KFF poll reveals a troubling shift in the United States: about one in six parents have delayed or skipped some vaccines for their children, excluding COVID-19 and flu shots. Nine percent have skipped the polio or measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines. In a nation where routine childhood immunization has long been a bedrock of public health, the findings mark a significant tilt away from consensus and toward cautious hesitation. For Thai readers, the study offers a mirror to reflect on how trust, risk communication, and cultural values shape decisions about vaccines in a densely interconnected world.

A new study in PLOS ONE shows that people’s judgments about tears depend more on the situation and who is crying than on tears alone. Thousands of participants across five countries evaluated digitally altered faces to decide if tears indicated honesty. The findings challenge the assumption that crying is a universal sign of truthfulness and highlight how context shapes perception. For Thai readers, the research offers timely insight into how emotional displays are interpreted in politics, media, and everyday life.

A new study published in PLOS One reveals that whether we interpret someone’s tears as sincere or manipulative depends greatly on the situation—and who is shedding them. The research, involving thousands of participants across five countries, challenges the common assumption that crying is always seen as a mark of honesty. Instead, the perceived genuineness of tears hinges on nuanced contextual factors—findings that have significant implications for how Thais navigate emotional expression and social trust.

A widely read parenting discussion sparked by a Slate column highlights a mother who demanded access to her 13-year-old daughter’s diary. The debate centers on whether parental supervision protects or undermines a teen’s emotional growth and autonomy. While rooted in one family, the issue resonates with Thai families balancing safety with growing independence.

In Thailand, the topic hits home. With smartphones, digital diaries, and instant messaging, many parents worry about online activity and safety. Yet child development experts warn that excessive monitoring—whether reading diaries or tracking online behavior—can erode trust and hinder a teen’s journey toward self-discovery.

A new study from an international team of researchers has uncovered a simple yet powerful eye contact trick that can instantly make someone appear more trustworthy. Published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the findings suggest that it’s not just making eye contact that matters—it’s how and when you glance, lock eyes, and redirect your gaze that truly communicates intent and trustworthiness to others. This discovery holds implications for everything from everyday social encounters to the design of robots interacting with humans, raising questions about how such non-verbal cues are interpreted across different cultures, including Thailand.

Recent findings suggest a specific eye-contact sequence can make an agent appear more trustworthy. Research published in Royal Society Open Science shows that not only eye contact but the timing and direction of gaze convey intent. The results have implications for everyday conversations, classrooms, and human–robot design, with meaningful considerations for Thai social norms.

The study followed 137 participants across several countries and was led by a researcher from a prominent university. It examined a gaze sequence called “Intervene-Same”: look at an object, make brief eye contact, then return to the object. When both humans and robots used this pattern, about 96% of participants believed the agent intended something from them, compared with 41% when eye contact came before looking at the object, and 27% when there was no eye contact. Participants watched human-like avatars and the iCub robot perform different gaze patterns at a virtual table with colored blocks, judging whether the agent wanted a block or was simply scanning.

A recent parenting advice column in Slate sparked heated discussion about parental boundaries and adolescent privacy after featuring a case in which a mother gave her 13-year-old daughter a diary—on condition that she be allowed to read it. The father’s concerns, echoed by parenting experts, centre on the risk that such surveillance could erode trust and impact a young person’s developing sense of autonomy and emotional wellbeing. This conversation, though emerging from a single family’s dilemma, mirrors broader debates in Thailand and globally about how parents should balance child safety with respect for adolescent privacy.

Telling small white lies to children — from claiming the tablet is “broken” to insisting ice cream trucks only play music when out of ice cream — is a parenting tactic familiar to many. While these fibs often seem harmless and sometimes feel like necessary tools for exhausted parents, new international research warns that such deception can carry significant unintended consequences for a child’s trust and honesty, even shaping their behavior well into adolescence and adulthood.

Small white lies may feel convenient for tired parents, but new international research suggests they come with lasting costs to trust and honesty in children. The findings indicate that deceptive parenting can shape a child’s behavior into adolescence and beyond, undermining confidence in close relationships.

A major study led by researchers from a top Singapore university and a prominent education institute in Ontario confirms a global pattern: most parents report telling lies to influence emotions or behavior. More than nine in ten adults say they were lied to by a parent in childhood, and the majority of current parents admit to lying to their own children.

A recent study into the psychology of infidelity is prompting renewed debate among Thai readers about whether the old adage, “once a cheater, always a cheater,” stands up to scientific scrutiny. According to coverage by Psychology Today, fresh research examines how likely it is that someone who has cheated once will commit infidelity again in future relationships—a question at the heart of many relationship anxieties both in Thailand and worldwide.

The topic of infidelity remains particularly salient in Thai society, where rapid modernization and digital communication have brought new complexities to romantic relationships. Historically, Thai culture has valued harmony, discretion, and family cohesion, but changing social norms and greater gender equality have put issues surrounding monogamy and fidelity under sharper scrutiny. Relationship experts in Thailand note that suspicions or experiences of betrayal often carry heavy cultural stigma, impacting not just personal well-being but extended family dynamics as well.

A new examination of infidelity challenges simple stereotypes and invites Thai readers to consider how repeat cheating may or may not occur. The research questions whether someone who cheats once is doomed to repeat the behavior, a topic that resonates with many couples in Thailand and beyond.

Infidelity remains a pressing issue in Thai society, where rapid modernization and digital communication add new pressures to romantic relationships. Thai culture has long valued harmony, discretion, and family unity, yet changing norms and greater gender equality are pushing conversations about monogamy and trust into the spotlight. Relationship professionals note that betrayal carries a heavy cultural stigma, affecting not only individuals but extended family dynamics as well.

A new study by psychologists finds that people’s trust in others is influenced by their childhood financial background more than their current status. In experiments with nearly 2,000 participants, researchers observed that individuals described as having grown up in modest circumstances were trusted more than those depicted as having privileged upbringings. This effect persisted even when current incomes were similar.

In the experiments, participants played a trust game with fictional profiles that hinted at education, early work, and travel experiences. “Trusters” decided how many raffle tickets to give to “trustees,” where each ticket represented potential monetary reward. The number of tickets given served as a measure of behavioral trust.

Recent research published by the American Psychological Association has uncovered a surprising factor shaping who we trust: a person’s childhood financial background. People are far more likely to trust individuals raised in modest circumstances than those perceived to have grown up wealthy, suggesting that our perceptions of trustworthiness are deeply influenced by subtle social cues rooted in class and upbringing. The findings, featured in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, offer new insight into what drives trust in relationships, work settings, and broader society (Deseret News).

New research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has found that people are more likely to trust individuals who grew up in lower-income households, as compared to those who had privileged backgrounds. This finding, based on a series of experiments with nearly 2,000 participants, sheds light on the deep-rooted perceptions linking childhood hardship with morality and trustworthiness—a topic that resonates on both a global and a Thai societal level (Neuroscience News).

New research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology explores how childhood poverty influences trust. Across nearly 2,000 participants, people tended to trust those who grew up in lower-income households more than those from privileged backgrounds. The study links early hardship with perceived morality and reliability, a topic that resonates in both global and Thai contexts.

In Thailand, trust underpins friendships and workplace culture alike. The findings matter because they show how someone’s past, especially childhood conditions, can shape decisions about who to partner with or hire. In a society where family origins and social status influence reputations, understanding these trust dynamics can help foster fairer, more sincere interactions at work and in communities.

Recent research underscores how seemingly ordinary parenting behaviors can deeply impact children’s trust, highlighting seven actions that children often interpret as betrayal. The findings shed light on the sensitive nature of child-parent relationships and encourage a reassessment of everyday parental conduct, reinforcing the need for mindful communication and consistency in family life. These revelations are significant for Thai parents, educators, and mental health professionals who strive to nurture emotionally resilient and well-adjusted youth.

Recent research highlights how ordinary parenting actions can deeply affect a child’s sense of trust. The study identifies seven common behaviors that children often interpret as betrayal, urging Thai parents, teachers, and mental health professionals to rethink daily interactions and prioritize mindful communication.

While many caregivers assume their actions are harmless, psychological research shows that certain practices—such as breaking promises, dismissing a child’s feelings, or unfavorably comparing siblings—can wound trust. The findings align with broader developmental psychology, which shows that a child’s sense of security is shaped by the reliability and empathy demonstrated by adults. Data from established institutions suggests that early trust influences emotional regulation and future relationships.

A new study has uncovered a surprising trend: employees who openly acknowledge using artificial intelligence (AI) at work are often trusted less by colleagues and clients than those who keep silent. This finding, featured in a recent report on The Conversation, challenges widely held assumptions that transparency around technology use breeds confidence and goodwill in professional settings.

This insight is particularly significant for Thai professionals and organizations as businesses across the kingdom increasingly embrace AI-powered solutions—from customer service chatbots and automated translation tools to advanced data analytics. In many workplaces, staff are encouraged to adopt AI as part of digital transformation agendas and the nation’s push toward Thailand 4.0, where technology and innovation drive economic growth. Yet, according to the latest findings, revealing reliance on such tools could undermine interpersonal trust, an essential element in many Thai office cultures that value harmony, respect, and personal relationships.

A new study finds that employees who openly acknowledge using artificial intelligence at work are often trusted less by colleagues and clients than those who do not mention it. The research challenges the assumption that transparency about technology use automatically builds confidence.

This insight is timely for Thai professionals as businesses across the country increasingly deploy AI-powered solutions—from customer service chatbots to automated translation and data analytics. As Thai organizations pursue digital transformation and national initiatives like Thailand 4.0, the findings raise questions about how transparency around AI affects workplace relationships and teamwork.