Loyalty is a broader concept than trust. Loyalty can be based on trust, typically long-standing trust, but can also be based on other things.
Certain pets may offer the illusion of trust, but more properly offer loyalty.
Today, loyalty is often to something that is greater than or beyond.
To call someone loyal can be slightly demeaning, whereas to call someone trustworthy is invariably ennobling.
What is trust?
Trust may be associated with love; and, especially with romantic love , can be a prerequisite for love.
It is entirely possible to love someone, and even to rely on his love, without also trusting him—as we often do.
We often trust people, such as doctors and judges, who do not love or even sympathize with us.
We can rely on someone to be a certain way or do certain things, such as turn up on time, get angry, or lose our keys.
Trust is more than mere reliance or reliability—or, as we have seen, mere loyalty.
Instead, trust is established when I ask or allow a suitable person to take at least some responsibility for something that I value, thereby making myself vulnerable, and he agrees to take that responsibility.
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Thank you ….I trust my doctor with my health because, by virtue of being a doctor, and my doctor, he has taken some responsibility for my health—and, of course, I have asked or allowed him to do so.
Even then, my trust in my doctor is not all-embracing: given the kind of person that he is, and the nature of our compact, I can trust him with my health, but not, say, with my housekeeping or my finances.
My doctor may well one day decide, for one reason or another, to stop caring for my health, but I would expect him to regretfully make me aware of this fact, and maybe to make transitional arrangements so as to protect the thing that I value and entrusted him with, in this case, my health.
If he withdrew himself in this measured and considerate manner, I would feel sad, disappointed, and perhaps annoyed, but I would not feel betrayed or let down, or, at least, not nearly as much as I would otherwise have.
The French for trust is confiance, which, like the English confidence, literally means ‘with faith’.
Perhaps we cannot trust people not to let us down, other than by a leap of faith similar to belief in God, with the length of the leap determined by such factors as fear, habit, nature, reason, and love. But we can just about trust them—or some of them—not to mislead us, and to let us down lightly.
Do you want to add a word or two?….
Loyalty is a virtue we value in several types of relationships, including among family, friends, romantic partners, workplaces, organizations, religions, and nations.
What is loyalty, and why is it important?
People tend to define loyalty by what it is not for example: not being betrayed, cheated on, or abandoned, but loyalty is much more than the absence of mistreatment.
Loyalty is faithfulness, dedication, honesty, trust, and support in a relationship. It requires an emotional commitment and engenders a sense of identity.
This article explores the characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks of loyalty, as well as some strategies to build loyalty in relationships.
Your Comments….
Loyalty means being there for someone through the highs and lows, and staying by their side regardless of the circumstances.
Loyalty involves accepting and loving someone for who they are, and not threatening to leave them when things become challenging. People display loyalty by weathering storms together, providing support, and sticking it out.
Loyalty means being consistent in your treatment, behavior, and regard for another.
It’s important to be reliable and dependable—someone who can be counted on to show up.
Loyalty also involves consistently treating the other person with kindness, fairness, and generosity of spirit.
This is true for romantic, work, family, and social relationships as when we feel others are loyal to us.
We can be more authentic and take off the socially acceptable filters that we tend to display our behaviors through.
Loyalty helps build support which is important for mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Knowing you have people who have your back and will be there for you when you need them can help you feel secure.
Loyalty can be harmful when your allegiance to the other person becomes consistently detrimental to you.
Some people remain in relationships that no longer serve them. In these instances, their sense of loyalty can cause them to become exploited or abused.
While loyalty is an important trait, it should not be used against someone.
It can be hard for someone who is loyal to recognize when they are being manipulated by someone they love.
It can be helpful to get an outside perspective from a friend, family member, colleague, or therapist who has their best interests at heart.
While it may not always be possible to sever relationships, it’s important to set boundaries in relationships with people who are manipulating you because of your loyalty.
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