Promises, promises - but only for six days
Brits can only keep a promise for six days, and a third (29 per cent) of UK adults even admit that they have made a promise that they never intended to keep, according to new research.
The average person makes almost 50,000 promises in a lifetime. However over a quarter (27 per cent) of those polled blame this over promising on trying to get out of a conversation as quickly as possible and so creating an excuse.
Chevrolet, the car maker synonymous with the 5 Year Promise aftersales package found that despite this, good intentions are clearly evident as reassuringly 85 per cent of Brits readily admit that they do feel guilty when they do not keep to their word.
It seems that gender can affect how genuine a heartfelt promise is too. 85 per cent of women say they fully believe they will keep a promise when they make one, as opposed to fewer than three quarters of men (72 per cent) who admit to often knowing in the back of their minds that they will be unable to keep to their word.
In light of this it is understandable perhaps that a quarter of Brits (25 per cent) are inclined not to believe a promise that is made to them. Nearly two fifths of Brits (37 per cent) are most likely to believe a promise made to them by their partner or spouse, a third (31 per cent) are most likely to believe their mum will keep their word and it seems we are most distrusting of politicians with over half of Brits (58 per cent) declaring that they are least likely to believe a promise made to them by an elected official.
People who we most trust will keep to their word
1. Spouse/ partner (37 per cent)
2. Mother (31 per cent)
3. Friends (9 per cent)
4. Father (9 per cent)
5. Child or children (7 per cent)
People who we least trust will keep to their word
1. Politicians (58 per cent)
2. Work colleagues (9 per cent)
3. Boss (7 per cent)
4. Child or children (7 per cent)
5. Friends (6 per cent)
Les Turton from Chevrolet, comments: “It seems that the sincere and genuine intention that should always accompany a promise is in danger of becoming lost. A promise should always be offered to give a sense of trust and reassurance in the receiver and should only be extended with completely honest and upright intentions.”
Regional Differences:
It seems Londoners make more promises than those over the rest of the country with one in twenty (4 per cent) admitting to making ten or more promises a day
Those from the East Midlands are most skeptical with over a third (37 per cent) stating that they are inclined not to believe a promise that is made to them
The Welsh are most trusting of their spouse or partner with nearly half (44 per cent) stating that they are most likely to believe their other halves when they give them their word on something
Those from the North West seem to be the most trustworthy with a third (32 per cent claiming that they have never broken a promise before
Age differences:
It seems that genuine promising may be something that comes with age as over a third (38 per cent) of under 25’s admit that they have made a promise that they don’t intend to keep, compared to just one in five (17 per cent) over 55 year olds.
Wariness could be a unexpected trait of the younger generation with over a third (35 per cent) of under 25’s revealing that they are inclined not to believe promises that are made to them, compared to just one in five (18 per cent) over 55 year olds.
Those aged between 25 and 34 are the most likely not to keep to their word with four fifths of younger adults (81 per cent) admitting that they have not been able to keep to their word
Remarkably, those aged between 45 and 54 admit that they are least likely to believe a promise made to them by their own child or children
Chevrolet conducted the research as part of the launch of their 5 year promise campaign, which aims to offer peace of mind and reassurance to their customers. The Chevrolet 5 Year Promise is the best ever combined warranty and aftersales package in the UK. It extends to every model in the value-for-money car manufacturer’s line-up and includes 5 year warranty, breakdown cover, servicing, MoT test warranty and annual vehicle health checks.
