promisekeeping

Promisekeeping is the practice of keeping promises and commitments. In everyday usage it refers to the expectation that individuals, organizations, and institutions will fulfill stated assurances, whether personal, contractual, or public. In sociology and ethics, promisekeeping is analyzed as a component of trust, reliability, and social capital that supports predictable cooperation.

Contexts for promisekeeping include interpersonal relationships, where a promise to visit or support a friend is part of daily trust; contract law, where terms are legally binding; and political or organizational settings, where campaign pledges, policy commitments, or corporate promises are evaluated against outcomes. The concept is used to examine how promises shape expectations, social norms, and the willingness of actors to engage in joint action.

Several factors influence whether promises are kept. Cognitive aspects such as memory and intention matter, as do situational constraints and changes in feasibility. Social and institutional accountability mechanisms—record-keeping, audits, reputational consequences, and formal sanctions—can sustain promise-keeping by providing incentives or penalties. Transparency and communication also play a role in adjusting expectations when commitments cannot be met.

Impact and critique. Keeping promises generally enhances trust, reduces uncertainty, and facilitates long-term cooperation, whereas repeated breaches can erode social capital and trigger withdrawal of support or legal remedies. Critics caution that an emphasis on promises may impose normative pressure, overlook power imbalances or structural constraints, and vary across cultures in what counts as fulfillment.

See also: trust, reliability, promise, contract law, social capital, ethics.