Situations, Trust and Culture: A Functional Take

In this paper we seek to describe the relationship between culture and trust. Trust we argue constitute one of several responses or strategies to specific social situations. Culture on the other hand may be seen as a tool kit... [ view full abstract ]

In this paper we seek to describe the relationship between culture and trust. Trust we argue constitute one of several responses or strategies to specific social situations. Culture on the other hand may be seen as a tool kit providing people with the means to understand, solve or address social problems. As people confront dependence and vulnerability they fashion strategies that draw on their cultural tool kit. This we argue is likely to influence how people view social situations as well as the type of strategies people devise to address such situations. Such strategies include but are not limited to trust. Studying the influence of culture on trust accordingly need to broaden its focus to include other strategies or adaptations to vulnerability.