Trust is a crucial factor in relationships of any kind and the lack of trust between partners can often be the major deal breaker when deciding whether to move a relationship onto the next level. Without trust, a relationship can become a destructive institution in which insecurities are given a free run to develop. The trouble is, when trying to determine if a man is worthy of our trust, our good judgements can often be overshadowed by other factors: attraction, liking and in some cases even love. To make things easier we outline a few questions to ask yourself before you put your faith in Mr Perfect.

Is he honest in his dealings with other people?

If a man does not display trustworthiness when you see him interacting with others, the likelihood is that he won’t apply integrity to your relationship neither. So if he consistently lies to his friends, makes up fictional excuses and leaves people hanging then he probably isn’t the type of person you should be hanging out with.

Does he admit when he is wrong?

Somebody who always passes the buck and refuses to accept responsibility for their mistakes, however minor, is hardly likely to win the award for Honourable Man of the Year. A guy who gets overly defensive when you try to discuss something you are uncomfortable about is sure to raise your index of suspicion. Owning up to blunders is a sure sign of a strong, upright character and if your guy displays this desirable trait then he is definitely one to stick with.

Is he reliable?

What does reliable actually mean? Dating a boring guy who turns up bang on time and reminds you of your Dad? Hardly! Being reliable simply means doing what you say you will, at the time that you’ve said you will. Sounds easy enough but an astonishing number of people, guys and girls alike, find this incredibly hard. Occasional slip-ups are human, but a boyfriend who lets you down more often than not is probably not the best contender to put your trust in

Has he got an unfavourable past history?

Everyone deserves a second chance, maybe even a third one depending on circumstances. However, if your man has a strong history of being a serial cheater or liar, either in your relationship or his previous ones then the old proverb “a leopard never changes his spots” probably applies.

Unlike love which is generally unconditional, trust has to be earned but it is not easy to gain someone’s confidence if they are not willing to allow you to do so. Remember, putting your faith in someone is not a halfway process; either you do it fully and completely or not at all. So if you feel as though you are onto a winner, banish your fears and give him the opportunity to win you over.