How to Know in Seconds if People Trust You

Science says this is how to tell if other people trust and like you.

A meta-analysis study say there are six nonverbal signs that indicate whether you have established rapport.

  1. Smiling
  2. Maintaining eye contact
  3. Laughing
  4. Initiating new conversational topics
  5. Maintaining physical proximity
  6. Mimicking (unconsciously) your nonverbal expressions

According to science, when we like someone, we act in ways to get them to trust us. From this perspective, we engage in these behaviors to increase the degree of overlap, interdependence, and commitment to an agreement.

Whether we engage in these behaviors has little or nothing to do with romantic desires. These behaviors apply when doctors interact with their patients, parents interact with their kids, or when salespeople talk to their customers.