How Does Diversity Impact Trust in Relationship?
Trust is an important component of a functioning society and, arguably, an even more vital component of a relationship. As our world becomes more diversified due to increased immigration and globalization, making communities more ethnically diverse, partnerships--as friends or romantic partners--between individuals with different ethnicities, values, religious beliefs and cultures become more commonplace. Today, more than ever, social researchers are curious about how diversity can impact trust in a relationship.
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Significance
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Political scientist Robert Putnam suggests in his book "Bowling Alone" that ethnic diversity tends to reduce trust. He also posits that in ethnically diverse communities, citizens tends to "hunker down," having limited contact with people whom they consider different. Ethnic diversity is not the only element that creates distrust; economic and religious diversity as well as language proficiency affect trust as well. However, Putnam states that people are more likely to be more tolerant and trusting of people within their faith group. In one particularly memorable phrase, Putnam said that diversity brings out the "turtle" in us.
Effects
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In her book "Distrust American Style: Diversity and the Crisis of Public Confidence," Sheila Suess Kennedy states that if Putnam's original suggestions in "Bowling Alone" were disconcerting, his more recent findings are even more so. Those findings are that people who live in more ethnically diverse communities aren't only less trusting of their neighbors, but they are less trusting of everyone in general--not just of those who belong to different ethnic groups.
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Theories/Speculation
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Kennedy also posits that urban areas where there are many more people creates a more complex society that leads to distrust because it lacks informal mechanisms that people use in smaller societies--such as gossip, reputation and identity. How many people do we "identify" as we walk down a busy New York City street? When we combine this with people whom we don't identify with in terms of language, ethnicity or culture, trust also diminishes and we go back inside our turtle shell.
Considerations
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Putnam, while offering a lot of empirical evidence regarding trust and diversity, does point out in his works that his research does have limits and contends that studies can only reflect responses given at one point in time and can't predict long-term attitudes. He points out how America's entire history is a tale about how, in the face of abundant immigration and social strife, we have managed to come out with a broader sense of who "we" are. As communities become more diverse, trust may decline, but there are other studies that show enhanced creativity and economic growth in those communities.
Misconceptions
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Diversity in a friendship or romantic partnership doesn't impact trust in the same way diversity in a community can impact trust. The major function of friendships and partnerships works against distrust. Once a friendship or romantic partnership is established, trust is something that is built within the relationship--unrelated to their diversity. In a community, it is easier for people who share similarities to group together (i.e., ignoring an "out-group").
Potential
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Globalization and immigration will undoubtedly be the cause of more diverse friendships and partnerships. Diverse relationships can lead to a greater understanding of other ethnic groups and cultures. This could potentially aid in greater equality and tolerance for all.
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References
- Photo Credit friendship image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
