This volume explores the various ways in which trust is thought about and studied in
contemporary society. In doing so it aims to advance both theoretical and methodological
perspectives on trust. Trust is an important topic in this series because it raises issues of
both motivation and emotion. Specifically notions of trust and fairness motivate individuals
to behave in a manner they deem appropriate when responding to governmental authority. On the
emotions-related side individuals have emotional responses to institutions with authority over
their lives such as the city government or the Supreme Court depending on whether they
perceive the institutions as legitimate. The public's trust and confidence in governmental
institutions are frequently claimed as essential to the functioning of democracy) spawning
considerable research and commentary. For those in the law and social sciences the tendency is
to focus on the criminal justice system in general and the courts in particular. However other
public institutions also need trust and confidence in order not only to promote democracy but
also to assure effective governance facilitate societal interactions and optimize
organizational productivity. Not surprisingly therefore important research and commentary is
found in literatures that focus on issues ranging from social sciences to natural resources
from legislatures to executive branch agencies from brick and mortar businesses to online
commerce from health and medicine to schools from international development to terrorism
etc. This volume integrates these various approaches to trust from these disciplines with the
goal of fostering a truly interdisciplinary dialogue. By virtue of this interdisciplinary focus
the volume should have broad appeal for researchers and instructors in a variety of
disciplines: psychology sociology political science criminal justice social justice
practitioners economics and other areas.
