Davide Torsello: Trust, Distrust and Social Relations at an East Slovakian Village
Trust and distrust seem to be important concepts when we describe how individuals structuralise their acts, and/or how they report with other people their ideas on social reality. Trust that creates a relation based on reliance between parties that share a common goal, holds the emphasis on interests and instrumentalism and an array of mutual expectations and responsibilities from both sides. These are defined on the basis of the principles and rules of the community. Deep distrust to individuals and institutions is one of the reactions produced by individuals by which the village people react on the situation of poverty and economic penury during their everyday life. In every detail of the social life of individuals trust is in stake, since due to the lack of economic sources the individuals see the opportunity to survive in social interaction. In such conditions there is no place to practice the „blind“ and absolute trust, since (the social and economic) goods are lacking from the life of individuals. At the same time distrust results responsibility in the players of the interaction that is seen not in apathy and passivity, but in one active mode of living in general conditions of distrust and lack.
The inhabitants of Krá¾ová nad Váhom consider the importance of social relations as the adaptation strategy to big historical changes. How could the existence of dominant expressed distrust be understood in the community? In instrumental conception in case of need family members are potentially the most profitable sources of help. Since family relations are always „blood relations“. Although, on the other hand, strong emphasis on family relations has also negative sides. The petrified etiquette of behaving and maintaining tiresome social relations can lead to the accumulation of negative emotions that can threaten the sensitive system of family relations.
Relations out of family and within a village are characterised by different social aspects: these are not so long-term than the relations within family. People can use instrumental trust on different levels depending on how much time (and power) is invested to the relationship. Although, on the other hand even if the emotional load is easier in relations outside the family than in the relations within the family, capriciousness of relations outside the family is stronger. Hence, with the growth of distance between the individuals the cognitive map of trust becomes more complex. At this point the usage of distrust can become of strategic importance and the expressed distrust between the village habitants does not reflect the lack of forms of associations or civil collective actions, as some of the theories seem to declare.
Using distrust is expressing tense that is present between different layers on which trust is based and with the help of which it is maintained. By using direct distrust village people are able to create balance between following personal interests and the construction of social and cognitive trust. Hence, distrust becomes the supplement of trust and at the same time the tool for creating attachment between the people in uncertain times.