Trust as an aspect of individual and social well-being: a study in four European countries
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| Year of publication | 2003 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
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| Description | This study was designed to investigate the importance and meaning of trust as an attribute of well-being of the individual and of society in four different political-cultural contexts: in the Czech Republic, Russia, Scotland, and Slovakia. Results indicate that the three post-communist countries rate trust as more important for the well-being of the individual than for that of society. In addition, the meaning of trust in the four nations shows some differences. Scots anchor the concept of trust in personal commitments and in personal involvement, in the principles of democracy and civic co-operation. In contrast, we found that for our participants in the three post-communistic countries trust is more related to positive interpersonal relationships and to characteristics of "other people". Moreover, like in Scotland, democratic principles constitute a basic framework within which trust is conceived. However, in the three post-communist countries, self-responsibility and one's own personal activity seems to be of lower importance with respect to the meaning of trust. |
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