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This work examines the basic social-psychological problems that generate the need for social trust and other acculturation strategies. Social trust is examined within the context of competing social problem-solving tools. The authors analyze the problem of how social trust can be encouraged within a cultural context that favors other socialization strategies, particularly distrust. They look at the relation between social trust and risk communication, specifically how social trust might be used to transform public participation; from an ineffective formalist show into a creative, community-building, problem-solving process. The work distinguishes between two forms of social trust pertinent to our world today: pluralistic, which occurs within groups and is based on existing values, and cosmopolitan, which is an across-group phenomenon and is based on emerging values. Earle and Cvetkovich's study is the story of gradual movement from pluralistic to cosmopolitan social trust.

Social trust, the willingness to rely on those with formal responsibility to develop policies and make decisions, facilitates effective management of environmental issues, including wildlife management. National polls suggest that the public trusts government agencies to solve environmental problems, yet such trust is low (or non-existent) in areas of controversy, such as the protection of threatened and endangered species. This study explored the role of social trust in understanding views of threatened and endangered species management in the National Forests of southern California. The 127 participants surveyed lived in or near a National Forest or were recreational and/or other users of the National Forest. The results suggest that trust in Forest Service management of wildlife relates to perceived similarity between individual values regarding species protection and Forest Service values. Participants who believe the Forest Service shares their values have a high trust; those who believe the Forest Service does not share their values have a low trust. The most trusting tend to believe that species protection should be the primary principle guiding forest management and that the Forest Service consistently operates according to these principles. Those low in trust believe forest management should be based on the fulfillment of human needs; they perceive that the Forest Service operates inconsistently according to their values. The study suggests that social trust is a significant predictor of approval of species management practices.

Social trust is a crucial issue to many aspects of modern society. Policy makers continually aspire to winning it and corporations frequently run the risk of losing it. The 'trust deficit' raises vital questions and problems to which until recently there have been few answers or solutions. Experts from both sides of the Atlantic explore the importance for trust of various influences, from individual perceptions to organizational systems, and consider the conditions involved in building or undermining trust. Several authors examine practical hazard management issues, including medical vaccination programmes and popular participation in pollution control and waste management as strategies for enhancing social trust. This book provides insightful analysis for researchers and students of environmental and social sciences and is essential reading for those engaged in risk management in both the public and private sectors.

This report presents results from a study of San Bernardino National Forest community residents' experiences with and perceptions of fire, fire management, and the Forest Service. Using self-administered surveys and focus group discussions, we found that participants had personal experiences with fire, were concerned about fire, and felt knowledgeable about effective fire management. Consideration of future consequences, a measure of time orientation, was not found to be related to beliefs about and reactions to wildfire. Trust in the Forest Service was related to a number of fire-associated attitudes. Findings help shed light on the experiences of residents living in fire-prone communities and highlight the importance of trust in understanding public perceptions about fire management.

Social trust, the willingness to rely on those with formal responsibility to develop policies and make decisions, facilitates effective management of environmental issues, including wildlife management. National polls suggest that the public trusts government agencies to solve environmental problems, yet such trust is low (or non-existent) in areas of controversy, such as the protection of threatened and endangered species. This study explored the role of social trust in understanding views of threatened and endangered species management in the National Forests of southern California. The 127 participants surveyed lived in or near a National Forest or were recreational and/or other users of the National Forest. The results suggest that trust in Forest Service management of wildlife relates to perceived similarity between individual values regarding species protection and Forest Service values. Participants who believe the Forest Service shares their values have a high trust; those who believe the Forest Service does not share their values have a low trust. The most trusting tend to believe that species protection should be the primary principle guiding forest management and that the Forest Service consistently operates according to these principles. Those low in trust believe forest management should be based on the fulfillment of human needs; they perceive that the Forest Service operates inconsistently according to their values. The study suggests that social trust is a significant predictor of approval of species management practices.