An Examination Of Trust In Contemporary American Society

Abstract

It is hard to imagine a society functioning in the absence of trust. From the smallest incident—crossing the street when the light is green—to the most consequential events—a government fulfilling its pledge to pay Social Security—individuals must be able to rely on individuals and institutions to behave in a reliable and trustworthy manner. When trust is absent, chaos ensues. Of course, trust should not be given blindly; authentic trust needs to be earned and renewed (Fukuyama, 1995; Putnam, 2000).