America's Trust Fall

Greater Good by Pamela Paxton, Jeremy Adam Smith | Dec. 7, 2008 (Special Report)

"Trust no one" has essentially served as Americans' motto over the last two generations. For 40 years—the years of Vietnam, Watergate, junk bonds, Monica Lewinsky, Enron, the Catholic Church sex scandals, and the Iraq war—our trust in each other has been dropping steadily, while trust in many institutions has been seriously shaken in response to scandals.

This trend is documented in a variety of national surveys. The General Social Survey, a ... Full Story »

Posted by Leo Romero

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Subjects: Politics, Sci/Tech, Health
Topics: Psychology
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Posted by: Posted by Leo Romero - Dec 7, 2008 - 10:30 AM PST
Reviewed by: Leo Romero (review), Chuck Garber (review), Mark Steele (review)
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Edited by: Leo Romero - Dec 7, 2008 - 10:30 AM PST

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Leo Romero
3.8
 by Leo Romero - Dec. 7, 2008

A good summary of research on the biological bases of trust, the rise and fall of trust in institutions, and prescriptions for rebuilding trust. With several links to related studies.

My takeaways in Quotes

A growing body of research hints that humans are hardwired to trust. Indeed, a closer examination of surveys shows that trust is resilient: Major events can stoke our trust ... More »

Leo posted this story.
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Chuck Garber
4.2
 by Chuck Garber - Dec. 7, 2008
See Full Review » (5 answers)

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