Manchester University Press
7 Students’ perceptions of generalised trust
Abstract
This chapter offers a descriptive analysis of Palermo students' level of interpersonal or generalised trust, with emphasis on their trust in others. In the literature on Italy, southern Italians are often described as less trustful than people in other parts of Italy. In this chapter, the statistics are based on the two questionnaires, distributed in 2002 and 2005. Statistics are presented for total samples and by socio-economic area. Different types of questions are used in order to analyse students' perceptions of other people. Two standard questions on trust that are frequently employed in international and national surveys and that are closely related are fielded: ‘Generally speaking, do you believe that most people can be trusted or that nobody can be trusted?’, and ‘Do you believe that most people try to help each other or that people generally only think about themselves?’. The chapter examines how much trust students have in family, relatives, and neighbours; how much trust they have in their classmates, teachers, school principals, and school staff; and their degree of trust in Palermitans, Sicilians, Italians or foreigners.
Abstract
This chapter offers a descriptive analysis of Palermo students' level of interpersonal or generalised trust, with emphasis on their trust in others. In the literature on Italy, southern Italians are often described as less trustful than people in other parts of Italy. In this chapter, the statistics are based on the two questionnaires, distributed in 2002 and 2005. Statistics are presented for total samples and by socio-economic area. Different types of questions are used in order to analyse students' perceptions of other people. Two standard questions on trust that are frequently employed in international and national surveys and that are closely related are fielded: ‘Generally speaking, do you believe that most people can be trusted or that nobody can be trusted?’, and ‘Do you believe that most people try to help each other or that people generally only think about themselves?’. The chapter examines how much trust students have in family, relatives, and neighbours; how much trust they have in their classmates, teachers, school principals, and school staff; and their degree of trust in Palermitans, Sicilians, Italians or foreigners.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of tables x
- Acknowledgements xiii
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 The origins of generalised trust 19
- 3 Methods 40
- 4 The Mafia 54
- 5 Cultural warfare 74
- 6 Students’ trust in political institutions 97
- 7 Students’ perceptions of generalised trust 116
- 8 Explaining generalised trust 137
- 9 The Letter Project – students’ own stories 163
- 10 Conclusion 199
- Appendix 224
- References 230
- Index 237
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of tables x
- Acknowledgements xiii
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 The origins of generalised trust 19
- 3 Methods 40
- 4 The Mafia 54
- 5 Cultural warfare 74
- 6 Students’ trust in political institutions 97
- 7 Students’ perceptions of generalised trust 116
- 8 Explaining generalised trust 137
- 9 The Letter Project – students’ own stories 163
- 10 Conclusion 199
- Appendix 224
- References 230
- Index 237
