Trust Radius versus Trust Level: Radius of Trust as a Distinct Trust Construct. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Hoorn, André
• Is Part Of: American sociological review. Volume 79:Number 6(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1256
• Page End: 1259
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: trust radius -- trust level -- out-group trust -- trust -- in-group trust; Sociology -- Periodicals; Social history -- Periodicals; 301
• DOI: 10.1177/0003122414555398
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-1224

Abstract

In their October 2011 ASR article, "How General Is Trust in 'Most People'? Solving the Radius of Trust Problem, " Delhey, Newton, and Welzel pioneer the measurement of trust radius, defined as the width of the circle of people among whom a certain trust level exists. One key finding of their study is that trust radius correlates so strongly with out-group trust level that the two are essentially identical constructs; this clashes with standard theory's finding that trust level and trust radius are distinct trust constructs. This result proves to be erroneous, however, due to a mistaken label. I seek to correct this labeling error and find that trust radius is, in fact, a separate trust construct. Trust radius differs from established trust level constructs such as level of trust in most people and level of out-group trust, not only theoretically but empirically as well.