Trust and trustworthiness often involve a severe commitment problem that may be hard to resolve. A particularly absurd resolution of it is that of Wagner's (1977, 16) The Rhinegold, in which Alberich adopts celibacy and forswears love forever to gain the power of the Rhinegold (see chapter 2). The sniveling Alberich has impossibly great willpower (as perhaps befits the ego of Wagner).

XREF: Connects to commitment device theory in economics and game theory, where costly signals make threats or promises credible. QUESTION: Does the author explore other real-world commitment devices beyond this mythological illustration?

Russell Hardin, Trust and Trustworthiness, loc. 617