Epistemic trust: a comprehensive review of empirical insights and implications for developmental psychopathology

Abstract

Originally rooted in philosophy and sociology, the concept of epistemic trust has recently transitioned to developmental psychopathology, illuminating social-cognitive processes in psychopathology. This narrative review synthesizes empirical evidence on epistemic trust to inform future research. A literature search highlighted 3 areas: i) the development of selective trust in children; ii) epistemic trust in non-clinical adults; iii) its link to mental health. Young children demonstrate selective learning from reliable sources using epistemic cues. Empirical studies beyond childhood were greatly facilitated in the last 2 years with the introduction of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity Questionnaire, a self-report scale measuring epistemic stance. Cross-sectional studies pinpointed dysfunctional epistemic strategies as factors in mental health vulnerability, and some qualitative work offered initial evidence linking restored epistemic trust to effective psychotherapy. For future research, we propose focusing on 3 primary areas. First, empirical investigations in adolescent samples are needed, as adolescence seems to be a pivotal phase in the development of epistemic trust. Second, more experimental research is required to assess dysfunctional and functional epistemic stances and how they relate to vulnerability to mental health disorders. Finally, intervention studies should explore the dynamics of epistemic stances within and between therapy sessions and their impact on therapeutic outcomes.

Mentalizing-Based Healthcare: Towards a Relational Paradigm for Chronic Illness Management

“…This interaction between the patient and healthcare provider helps to reduce the patients' innate epistemic vigilance toward new information, fostering a space of openness and receptivity. This is exemplified in psychotherapy, where it's observed that patients who trust their therapists to provide relevant and applicable information are more likely to engage in the therapy process and achieve better outcomes (Riedl et al, 2023;Li et al, 2023). This is particularly important to be considered in the context of patients with comorbid mental disorders.…”

A preliminary validation of PMQ—A four-factor questionnaire measuring parental mentalizing

“…Thus, the child learns not only to perceive their caregiver as a reliable source of information but also to benefit from positive influences in their environment more generally ( Luyten et al, 2020 ). This characteristic of secure attachment relationship is often lacking in adverse childhood experiences and insecure attachment, which have strong and positive associations with epistemic mistrust and epistemic credulity ( Li et al, 2023 ).…”

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“…Thus, the child learns not only to perceive their caregiver as a reliable source of information but also to benefit from positive influences in their environment more generally (Luyten et al, 2020). This characteristic of secure attachment relationship is often lacking in adverse childhood experiences and insecure attachment, which have strong and positive associations with epistemic mistrust and epistemic credulity (Li et al, 2023).…”