What is the Truth-Default Theory as noted in the book, Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know?

The Truth-Default Theory, created by psychologist Tim Levine, suggests that humans have a natural inclination to believe that people are generally honest. Gladwell references Levine's theory particularly in his examinations of Jerry Sandusky's and Larry Nassar's controversial sexual assault cases. Like Levine, Gladwell believes that the reason these men were not convicted for so long, was because no one wanted to believe they were dishonest.