Edu van der Werf
@eduvanderwerf.bsky.social
Father of two. Trying to understand life in general and trust in particular.
Member of First International Network on Trust (FINT). Initiator of TrustXNetwork
Member of First International Network on Trust (FINT). Initiator of TrustXNetwork
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
"Heb jij een bijzonder perspectief, achtergrond of ander soort expertise waarmee je wilt bijdragen aan een sterkere relatie tussen de samenleving en wetenschap, en heb je al een idee hoe dit kan?" Meld je dan aan voor NEWS-Fellowprogramma op het gebied van maatschappij, media & […]
Original post on mathstodon.xyz
mathstodon.xyz
September 14, 2026 at 8:12 AM
"Heb jij een bijzonder perspectief, achtergrond of ander soort expertise waarmee je wilt bijdragen aan een sterkere relatie tussen de samenleving en wetenschap, en heb je al een idee hoe dit kan?" Meld je dan aan voor NEWS-Fellowprogramma op het gebied van maatschappij, media & […]
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
🚨New publication out!
If citizens have no trust in their political institutions, does that necessarily mean that they distrust them? Or does this assumption obscure aspects of how citizens judge and relate to their state?
Very happy to see this one out! (1/)
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
If citizens have no trust in their political institutions, does that necessarily mean that they distrust them? Or does this assumption obscure aspects of how citizens judge and relate to their state?
Very happy to see this one out! (1/)
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Political trust revisited: theoretical and empirical insights into political distrust and mistrust
There remains a lack of clarity about what low political trust precisely entails. Based on long-standing discussions, recent works have sought to verify the existence of distinct political trust at...
www.tandfonline.com
September 7, 2026 at 12:07 PM
🚨New publication out!
If citizens have no trust in their political institutions, does that necessarily mean that they distrust them? Or does this assumption obscure aspects of how citizens judge and relate to their state?
Very happy to see this one out! (1/)
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
If citizens have no trust in their political institutions, does that necessarily mean that they distrust them? Or does this assumption obscure aspects of how citizens judge and relate to their state?
Very happy to see this one out! (1/)
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
New @nature.com collection on #trust in #science! A little anecdote from my conference travels opens the editorial – and in @helenpearson.bsky.social’s feature story I share my thoughts on what surveys (don’t) tell us about a “crisis of trust in science” and implications for #science #communication💡
NEW: Is there a 'crisis' of public trust in science?
It can feel that way — with attacks on research in the US and growing rejection of vaccines.
I investigated for @nature.com - and found some surprises.
My feature article is out today and a short🧵here
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
It can feel that way — with attacks on research in the US and growing rejection of vaccines.
I investigated for @nature.com - and found some surprises.
My feature article is out today and a short🧵here
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Have people stopped trusting science? The data tell a surprising story
Some say there’s a global crisis of trust — but research reveals where the real problems lie.
www.nature.com
July 2, 2026 at 6:01 AM
New @nature.com collection on #trust in #science! A little anecdote from my conference travels opens the editorial – and in @helenpearson.bsky.social’s feature story I share my thoughts on what surveys (don’t) tell us about a “crisis of trust in science” and implications for #science #communication💡
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
can’t believe a narcissist is being so publicly humiliated by a reflecting pool
June 24, 2026 at 2:45 PM
can’t believe a narcissist is being so publicly humiliated by a reflecting pool
Net als bij NL elftal speelt Wout W. een centrale rol in de theatershow van #hardgras. Topavond (😉) Ik heb genoten van de variatie, humor en gesmuld van de taligheid. @thomashvv.bsky.social, @micheldoodeman.bsky.social, @ivovictoria.bsky.social en natuurlijk @hardgras.bsky.social. Punten: 10
May 28, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Net als bij NL elftal speelt Wout W. een centrale rol in de theatershow van #hardgras. Topavond (😉) Ik heb genoten van de variatie, humor en gesmuld van de taligheid. @thomashvv.bsky.social, @micheldoodeman.bsky.social, @ivovictoria.bsky.social en natuurlijk @hardgras.bsky.social. Punten: 10
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
Human cooperation undergoes constant breakdown and repair
Incentives to cooperate must therefore be actively renewed (don't assume cooperation will sustain itself). www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Incentives to cooperate must therefore be actively renewed (don't assume cooperation will sustain itself). www.nature.com/articles/d41...
April 27, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Human cooperation undergoes constant breakdown and repair
Incentives to cooperate must therefore be actively renewed (don't assume cooperation will sustain itself). www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Incentives to cooperate must therefore be actively renewed (don't assume cooperation will sustain itself). www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
New preprint with @jayvanbavel.bsky.social: Novel social identities shape belief in true and false information
In 3 exps (N = 1,459) we randomly assigned people to one of two novel groups. People trusted (and then believed claims more from) their in-group
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
In 3 exps (N = 1,459) we randomly assigned people to one of two novel groups. People trusted (and then believed claims more from) their in-group
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
osf.io
February 18, 2026 at 9:25 PM
New preprint with @jayvanbavel.bsky.social: Novel social identities shape belief in true and false information
In 3 exps (N = 1,459) we randomly assigned people to one of two novel groups. People trusted (and then believed claims more from) their in-group
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
In 3 exps (N = 1,459) we randomly assigned people to one of two novel groups. People trusted (and then believed claims more from) their in-group
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
Very proud of the publication of this article, led by the brilliant @cvalebeek.bsky.social. We comprehensively test the causal effect of political trust on turnout and party choice, by breaking down these effects by trust levels, trust variability, and trust change events.
Plus: cool visualisations.
Plus: cool visualisations.
#OpenAccess from @epsrjournal.bsky.social -
Stable or variable distrust? Disentangling the relationship between political trust and electoral behavior - https://cup.org/4afqJn4
- @cvalebeek.bsky.social, @tomwgvdmeer.bsky.social & @hakhverdian.bsky.social
#FirstView
Stable or variable distrust? Disentangling the relationship between political trust and electoral behavior - https://cup.org/4afqJn4
- @cvalebeek.bsky.social, @tomwgvdmeer.bsky.social & @hakhverdian.bsky.social
#FirstView
December 17, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Very proud of the publication of this article, led by the brilliant @cvalebeek.bsky.social. We comprehensively test the causal effect of political trust on turnout and party choice, by breaking down these effects by trust levels, trust variability, and trust change events.
Plus: cool visualisations.
Plus: cool visualisations.
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
In their new paper, our researchers Balazs Bodo, Linda Weigl, and Theo Araujo explore the growing conversation around vulnerability and trust and identify six domains that help to elucidate how technologies change the nature of trust within the digital society.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Governance by trust mediators in the digital society: The redistribution of risk and vulnerability
Online intermediaries and algorithmic technologies, such as platforms or AI, remediated and with it, transformed many of our social, economic, and political relations. This transformation of relati...
www.tandfonline.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
In their new paper, our researchers Balazs Bodo, Linda Weigl, and Theo Araujo explore the growing conversation around vulnerability and trust and identify six domains that help to elucidate how technologies change the nature of trust within the digital society.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
Did cooperation evolve because of conflict? Or is conflict an (avoidable) ‘by-product’ of evolved capacities to cooperate. I think the latter—>
journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Did cooperation evolve because of conflict? Or is conflict an (avoidable) ‘by-product’ of evolved capacities to cooperate. I think the latter—>
journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
New paper out on trust in science in the International Journal of Public Opinion Research.
🙏 to @nielsmede.bsky.social and @colognaviktoria.bsky.social for initiating the TISP project and to @juliametag.bsky.social for her helpful input throughout the project. Free-access link: shorturl.at/4VBAJ
🙏 to @nielsmede.bsky.social and @colognaviktoria.bsky.social for initiating the TISP project and to @juliametag.bsky.social for her helpful input throughout the project. Free-access link: shorturl.at/4VBAJ
October 15, 2025 at 8:42 AM
New paper out on trust in science in the International Journal of Public Opinion Research.
🙏 to @nielsmede.bsky.social and @colognaviktoria.bsky.social for initiating the TISP project and to @juliametag.bsky.social for her helpful input throughout the project. Free-access link: shorturl.at/4VBAJ
🙏 to @nielsmede.bsky.social and @colognaviktoria.bsky.social for initiating the TISP project and to @juliametag.bsky.social for her helpful input throughout the project. Free-access link: shorturl.at/4VBAJ
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
Social media undercuts public health and institutional trust
A new study finds causal evidence that morally charged attacks generate anger and social media engagement which exacerbates the political polarization of public health
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
A new study finds causal evidence that morally charged attacks generate anger and social media engagement which exacerbates the political polarization of public health
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
September 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Social media undercuts public health and institutional trust
A new study finds causal evidence that morally charged attacks generate anger and social media engagement which exacerbates the political polarization of public health
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
A new study finds causal evidence that morally charged attacks generate anger and social media engagement which exacerbates the political polarization of public health
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
ANSWER: 0 (yes, ZERO!)
This is a result of an analysis done by a student in my grad seminar, using a large dataset (N=307,313).
What this result might mean: Nobody's personality is truly "average," and people's personality profiles (at least Big 5) might be more "jagged" than we think.
(🧵 1/5)
This is a result of an analysis done by a student in my grad seminar, using a large dataset (N=307,313).
What this result might mean: Nobody's personality is truly "average," and people's personality profiles (at least Big 5) might be more "jagged" than we think.
(🧵 1/5)
Imagine you have Big 5 personality scores from over 300,000 people. You designate the scores in the "mean +/- 0.25 SDs" range for each trait (~20%) as the average range.
QUESTION: How many people in this >300K sample do you think fall in the average range for ALL 5 TRAITS?
What's your answer?
QUESTION: How many people in this >300K sample do you think fall in the average range for ALL 5 TRAITS?
What's your answer?
September 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM
ANSWER: 0 (yes, ZERO!)
This is a result of an analysis done by a student in my grad seminar, using a large dataset (N=307,313).
What this result might mean: Nobody's personality is truly "average," and people's personality profiles (at least Big 5) might be more "jagged" than we think.
(🧵 1/5)
This is a result of an analysis done by a student in my grad seminar, using a large dataset (N=307,313).
What this result might mean: Nobody's personality is truly "average," and people's personality profiles (at least Big 5) might be more "jagged" than we think.
(🧵 1/5)
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
Peilingen zijn nuttige instrumenten voor kiezers, politici, en media. Ze kunnen wezenlijke effecten hebben, vooral via de wijze waarop media er - juist én onjuist - over rapporteren.
Ook in de campagneperiode hoop ik dat journalisten en duiders de peilingen gebruiken waarvoor ze geschikt zijn:
Ook in de campagneperiode hoop ik dat journalisten en duiders de peilingen gebruiken waarvoor ze geschikt zijn:
September 5, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Peilingen zijn nuttige instrumenten voor kiezers, politici, en media. Ze kunnen wezenlijke effecten hebben, vooral via de wijze waarop media er - juist én onjuist - over rapporteren.
Ook in de campagneperiode hoop ik dat journalisten en duiders de peilingen gebruiken waarvoor ze geschikt zijn:
Ook in de campagneperiode hoop ik dat journalisten en duiders de peilingen gebruiken waarvoor ze geschikt zijn:
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
When people hear others’ views on politically sensitive topics (e.g., migration, abortion), they quickly become disrespectful or disengage. How can we express our views in such a way that they foster respect and interaction?
@emilykubin.bsky.social, @kurtjgray.bsky.social & I studied this.
🧵1/7
@emilykubin.bsky.social, @kurtjgray.bsky.social & I studied this.
🧵1/7
August 26, 2025 at 8:10 AM
When people hear others’ views on politically sensitive topics (e.g., migration, abortion), they quickly become disrespectful or disengage. How can we express our views in such a way that they foster respect and interaction?
@emilykubin.bsky.social, @kurtjgray.bsky.social & I studied this.
🧵1/7
@emilykubin.bsky.social, @kurtjgray.bsky.social & I studied this.
🧵1/7
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
A new study found that popularity matters more than self-esteem or title for cultivating authenticity at work. f-st.co/s5P9Lw6
It's easier to be yourself at work when you're popular
A new study found that popularity matters more than self-esteem or title for cultivating authenticity at work.
f-st.co
August 23, 2025 at 6:27 AM
A new study found that popularity matters more than self-esteem or title for cultivating authenticity at work. f-st.co/s5P9Lw6
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
Excited to head to Thessaloniki ☀️ soon for #ecprgc25 to present our paper on political trust and policy support. Looking forward to engaging discussions and to soak up some of the city's historic charm between sessions. If you're working on a related topic, do get in touch – I'd love to connect!
August 21, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Excited to head to Thessaloniki ☀️ soon for #ecprgc25 to present our paper on political trust and policy support. Looking forward to engaging discussions and to soak up some of the city's historic charm between sessions. If you're working on a related topic, do get in touch – I'd love to connect!
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
New preprint🔊🧓: Why do we trust our friends more? We show that people are more efficient at evaluating information when making trust decisions about friends. This is preserved across the adult life span. W/ @jjfcastrellon.bsky.social . Feedback welcome: osf.io/tkpmv_v1
August 15, 2025 at 9:13 PM
New preprint🔊🧓: Why do we trust our friends more? We show that people are more efficient at evaluating information when making trust decisions about friends. This is preserved across the adult life span. W/ @jjfcastrellon.bsky.social . Feedback welcome: osf.io/tkpmv_v1
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
Whom do we want to see in power? People high in both benevolence and integrity - that's what a new paper by Annika Scholl, H Rapp, Gerben van Kleef and myself shows. 4 Studies (N=1151) provide consistent evidence for this interaction effect. Delighted to see this work out doi.org/10.1037/xap0...
June 6, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Whom do we want to see in power? People high in both benevolence and integrity - that's what a new paper by Annika Scholl, H Rapp, Gerben van Kleef and myself shows. 4 Studies (N=1151) provide consistent evidence for this interaction effect. Delighted to see this work out doi.org/10.1037/xap0...
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
🚨 New study reveals that when used to summarize scientific research, generative AI is nearly five times less accurate than humans.
Many haven't realized, but Gen AI's accuracy problem is worse than initially thought.
Many haven't realized, but Gen AI's accuracy problem is worse than initially thought.
May 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
🚨 New study reveals that when used to summarize scientific research, generative AI is nearly five times less accurate than humans.
Many haven't realized, but Gen AI's accuracy problem is worse than initially thought.
Many haven't realized, but Gen AI's accuracy problem is worse than initially thought.
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
Interested in how public services affect political distrust, populist support, and similar? Longitudinal evidence from Germany and Norway.
doi.org/10.1080/1471...
doi.org/10.1080/1471...
Welfare state evaluations, normative expectations, and political trust: longitudinal evidence from Germany and Norway
The expectancy-disconfirmation model (EDM) explains satisfaction with public services as a combination of service expectations and perceived performance. We study how satisfaction in turn affects p...
doi.org
May 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Interested in how public services affect political distrust, populist support, and similar? Longitudinal evidence from Germany and Norway.
doi.org/10.1080/1471...
doi.org/10.1080/1471...
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
When misinformation – about vaccines, fluoride, supplements, climate change, etc – linked to political identity = more difficult to change minds.
Trust too.
Study: "....liberals (compared with conservatives) show higher trust in most scientists."
No interventions > trust was successful. Ugh.
Trust too.
Study: "....liberals (compared with conservatives) show higher trust in most scientists."
No interventions > trust was successful. Ugh.
May 1, 2025 at 2:28 PM
When misinformation – about vaccines, fluoride, supplements, climate change, etc – linked to political identity = more difficult to change minds.
Trust too.
Study: "....liberals (compared with conservatives) show higher trust in most scientists."
No interventions > trust was successful. Ugh.
Trust too.
Study: "....liberals (compared with conservatives) show higher trust in most scientists."
No interventions > trust was successful. Ugh.
Reposted by Edu van der Werf
I did a podcast on trust in Chinese foreign policy with Severin de Wit's excellent TrustTalk podcast.
It's available:
✔️ on the TrustTalk website: lnkd.in/e-qrc9n3
✔️ On Apple Podcasts: lnkd.in/eDHkw8tz
✔️ On Spotify: lnkd.in/eTRNsiCz
✔️ On the TrustTalk YouTube channel: lnkd.in/e-i-e9fr
It's available:
✔️ on the TrustTalk website: lnkd.in/e-qrc9n3
✔️ On Apple Podcasts: lnkd.in/eDHkw8tz
✔️ On Spotify: lnkd.in/eTRNsiCz
✔️ On the TrustTalk YouTube channel: lnkd.in/e-i-e9fr
April 17, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I did a podcast on trust in Chinese foreign policy with Severin de Wit's excellent TrustTalk podcast.
It's available:
✔️ on the TrustTalk website: lnkd.in/e-qrc9n3
✔️ On Apple Podcasts: lnkd.in/eDHkw8tz
✔️ On Spotify: lnkd.in/eTRNsiCz
✔️ On the TrustTalk YouTube channel: lnkd.in/e-i-e9fr
It's available:
✔️ on the TrustTalk website: lnkd.in/e-qrc9n3
✔️ On Apple Podcasts: lnkd.in/eDHkw8tz
✔️ On Spotify: lnkd.in/eTRNsiCz
✔️ On the TrustTalk YouTube channel: lnkd.in/e-i-e9fr