People from Humble Backgrounds Seen as More Trustworthy, Says New Study

People who grow up in less privileged households are perceived as more moral and trustworthy than those from wealthy backgrounds, according to a groundbreaking new study from the University of British Columbia.

The study, led by Dr. Kristin Laurin, involved 1,900 participants who engaged in a series of trust-based experiments. Participants were asked to evaluate fictional profiles of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds and rate their trustworthiness and morality.

The findings revealed a consistent bias: individuals from low-income backgrounds—especially those who grew up with financial struggles—were considered more trustworthy and morally upright.

“People saw those from working-class or lower-income childhoods as more moral and trustworthy, even if their current financial status had changed,” Dr. Laurin explained. Interestingly, those who were currently poor did not receive the same automatic trust unless their past also reflected financial hardship.

The study suggests people intuitively separate someone’s past from their present, placing more trust in those whose modest roots signal resilience and integrity.

Dr. Laurin offered advice for navigating trust in social interactions: “If you come from wealth, you might want to focus on your present self and downplay privilege. If you’ve struggled financially, highlighting your humble roots may work to your advantage.”

The research comes amid growing evidence that links higher wealth with lower moral behavior. A related study from Norway recently found that wealthier individuals are more likely to display unethical behavior, reinforcing age-old literary and cinematic portrayals of the “ruthless rich.”