Compared paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenic patients, as well as a normal sample, on: (1) capacity to form a trusting relationship with an unknown other, and (2) the relative efficacy of a "reformed sinner" vs. a "lapsed saint" strategy in inducing trusting and trustworthy behavior in these samples. 48 Ss played a 2-person bargaining game for 30 trials and were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 strategies. Several game-playing styles differentiated the 3 samples. The paranoids, as contrasted with the nonparanoids and 24 normals, were more likely to be "cooperative" when dealing with a lapsed saint and more "exploitative" when confronted with a reformed sinner. Results reflect the paranoids' conflicting attitudes toward discrepancies in power.