IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/soinre/v154y2021i1d10.1007_s11205-020-02526-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Experiential Basis of Social Trust Towards Ethnic Outgroup Members

Author

Listed:
  • Jens Peter Frølund Thomsen

    (Aarhus University)

  • Jannik Fenger

    (Aarhus University)

  • Nathalie Rüger Jepsen

    (Aarhus University)

Abstract

This study contributes to social trust research by examining the extent to which cross-group interaction provokes exclusionary reactions among trusters. Specifically, we examine whether unpleasant contact with ethnic outgroup members constrains the relationship between social trust and ethnic exclusionism among majority members. The analysis shows that: (a) social trust relates negatively to ethnic exclusionism, (b) unpleasant contact experiences relate positively to ethnic exclusionism, and (c) social trust is almost unrelated to ethnic exclusionism when contact experiences have been unpleasant. Inconsistent with “moralistic” perspectives, social trusters’ views of ethnic outgroup members are remarkably experience-based. To understand the “experiential effect”, we develop a tentative interpretation emphasizing the joint capacity of negative emotions and group membership salience to enhance the implications of unpleasant encounters among contacted trusters. The analysis is based on the 2014-European Social Survey, including 27,796 individuals and 21 countries. The concluding section discusses how our affect-salience interpretation adds to the experiential understanding of social trust and interethnic relations in contemporary nations.

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Peter Frølund Thomsen & Jannik Fenger & Nathalie Rüger Jepsen, 2021. "The Experiential Basis of Social Trust Towards Ethnic Outgroup Members," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 154(1), pages 191-209, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:154:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-020-02526-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-020-02526-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11205-020-02526-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11205-020-02526-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jack Citrin & John Sides, 2008. "Immigration and the Imagined Community in Europe and the United States," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 56, pages 33-56, March.
    2. Francisco Herreros & Henar Criado, 2009. "Social Trust, Social Capital and Perceptions of Immigration," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 57(2), pages 337-355, June.
    3. Christian Bjørnskov, 2015. "Social Trust Fosters an Ability to Help Those in Need: Jewish Refugees in the Nazi Era," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 63(4), pages 951-974, October.
    4. Andrew Leigh, 2006. "Trust, Inequality and Ethnic Heterogeneity," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 82(258), pages 268-280, September.
    5. Frølund Thomsen, Jens Peter & Olsen, Mark, 2017. "Re-examining Socialization Theory: How Does Democracy Influence the Impact of Education on Anti-Foreigner Sentiment?," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 47(4), pages 915-938, October.
    6. Tim Reeskens, 2013. "But Who Are Those “Most People” That Can Be Trusted? Evaluating the Radius of Trust Across 29 European Societies," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 703-722, November.
    7. Alesina, Alberto & La Ferrara, Eliana, 2002. "Who trusts others?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(2), pages 207-234, August.
    8. Sides, John & Citrin, Jack, 2007. "European Opinion About Immigration: The Role of Identities, Interests and Information," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 37(3), pages 477-504, July.
    9. Tufan Ekici & Deniz Yucel, 2015. "What Determines Religious and Racial Prejudice in Europe? The Effects of Religiosity and Trust," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 122(1), pages 105-133, May.
    10. Bahry, Donna & Kosolapov, Mikhail & Kozyreva, Polina & Wilson, Rick K., 2005. "Ethnicity and Trust: Evidence from Russia," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 99(4), pages 521-532, November.
    11. Peter Dinesen, 2011. "A Note on the Measurement of Generalized Trust of Immigrants and Natives," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 103(1), pages 169-177, August.
    12. Francisco Herreros & Henar Criado, 2009. "Social Trust, Social Capital and Perceptions of Immigration," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 57, pages 337-355, June.
    13. Jack Citrin & John Sides, 2008. "Immigration and the Imagined Community in Europe and the United States," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 56(1), pages 33-56, March.
    14. Tim Reeskens & Marc Hooghe, 2008. "Cross-cultural measurement equivalence of generalized trust. Evidence from the European Social Survey (2002 and 2004)," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 85(3), pages 515-532, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Susanne Wallman Lundåsen, 2023. "Intergroup Contacts, Neighborhood Diversity, and Community Trust: the Asymmetrical Impact of Negative and Positive Experiences," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 163-188, March.
    2. Michael Kumove, 2023. "Rent-Free in Your Head? How Generalised Trust is Affected by the Trust and Salience of Outgroups," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 575-600, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Georg Kanitsar, 2022. "The Inequality-Trust Nexus Revisited: At What Level of Aggregation Does Income Inequality Matter for Social Trust?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 171-195, August.
    2. Nicolò Conti & Danilo Di Mauro & Vincenzo Memoli, 2019. "Citizens, immigration and the EU as a shield," European Union Politics, , vol. 20(3), pages 492-510, September.
    3. S. Rinken & S. Pasadas-del-Amo & M. Rueda & B. Cobo, 2021. "No magic bullet: estimating anti-immigrant sentiment and social desirability bias with the item-count technique," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 55(6), pages 2139-2159, December.
    4. Abdoulaye Diop & Ashley E. Jardina & Mark Tessler & Jill Wittrock, 2017. "Antecedents of Trust among Citizens and Non-citizens in Qatar," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 183-202, February.
    5. Facchini, Giovanni & Margalit, Yotam & Nakata, Hiroyuki, 2022. "Countering public opposition to immigration: The impact of information campaigns," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    6. Keisuke Kokubun, 2020. "What factors have caused Japanese prefectures to attract a larger population influx?," Papers 2009.07144, arXiv.org.
    7. David Rodriguez-Justicia & Bernd Theilen, 2022. "Immigration and tax morale: the role of perceptions and prejudices," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1801-1832, April.
    8. Blaine G. Robbins, 2011. "Neither government nor community alone: A test of state-centered models of generalized trust," Rationality and Society, , vol. 23(3), pages 304-346, August.
    9. Tufan Ekici & Deniz Yucel, 2015. "What Determines Religious and Racial Prejudice in Europe? The Effects of Religiosity and Trust," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 122(1), pages 105-133, May.
    10. Karl McShane, 2017. "Getting Used to Diversity? Immigration and Trust in Sweden," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 37(3), pages 1895-1910.
    11. Cary Wu, 2021. "How Stable is Generalized Trust? Internal Migration and the Stability of Trust Among Canadians," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(1), pages 129-147, January.
    12. Javier Olivera, 2015. "Changes in Inequality and Generalized Trust in Europe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 124(1), pages 21-41, October.
    13. Louis Jaeck, 2022. "Political economy of immigration policy in GCC countries," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 444-464, July.
    14. Jens Hainmueller & Daniel J. Hopkins, 2013. "Public Attitudes toward Immigration," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 1315, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    15. Musallam Abedtalas & Adnan Rashid Mamo, 2023. "Host Community Attitudes Towards Internally Displaced Persons: Evidence from Al-Bab, Syria," Journal of Social and Development Sciences, AMH International, vol. 13(4), pages 1-10.
    16. Markus M. L. Crepaz & Jonathan T. Polk & Ryan S. Bakker & Shane P. Singh, 2014. "Trust Matters: The Impact of Ingroup and Outgroup Trust on Nativism and Civicness," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 95(4), pages 938-959, December.
    17. Steven Gronau & Brigitte Ruesink, 2021. "What Makes Me Want You Here? Refugee Integration in a Zambian Settlement Setting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-19, July.
    18. Tausch, Arno, 2015. "Hofstede, Inglehart and beyond. New directions in empirical global value research," MPRA Paper 64282, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 11 May 2015.
    19. Economidou, Claire & Karamanis, Dimitris & Kechrinioti, Alexandra & Xesfingi, Sofia, 2017. "What Shapes Europeans’ Attitudes toward Xeno-philia(/phobia)?," MPRA Paper 76511, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Paschalis Arvanitidis & Athina Economou & Christos Kollias, 2016. "Terrorism’s effects on social capital in European countries," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 231-250, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:154:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-020-02526-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.