Individual-Level Evidence for the Causes and Consequences of Social Capital

Brehm, John; Rahn, Wendy

doi:10.2307/2111684

Cited by 2,421Social Capital and NetworksElectoral Systems and Political ParticipationSocial Power and Status Dynamics

Individual-Level Evidence for the Causes and Consequences of Social Capital

Brehm, John, Rahn, Wendy·1997·American Journal of Political Science

DOI 10.2307/2111684

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Abstract

Theory: Social capital is the web of cooperative relationships between citizens that facilitates resolution of collection action problems (Coleman 1990; Putnam 1993). Although normally conceived as a property of communities, the reciprocal relationship between community involvement and trust in others is a demonstration of social capital in individual behavior and attitudes. Hypotheses: Variation in social capital can be explained by citizens' psychological involvement with their communities, cognitive abilities, economic resources, and general life satisfaction. This variation affects citizens' confidence in national institutions, beyond specific controls for measures of actual performance. Methods: We analyze the pooled General Social Surveys from 1972 to 1994 in a latent variables framework incorporating aggregate contextual data. Results: Civic engagement and interpersonal trust are in a tight reciprocal relationship, where the connection is stronger from participation to interpersonal trust, rather than the reverse.

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Authors: Brehm, J., & Rahn, W.
Affiliations: University of Minnesota (US)
ORCID: Rahn, Wendy
Venue: American Journal of Political Science
Publisher: JSTOR
Published: 1997-07
Volume: 41
Issue: 3
Pages: 999
ISSN: 0092-5853 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.2307/2111684
OpenAlex: W2064869822
Cited by: 2,421
References: 57
Citations by year: 2026: 42 · 2025: 62 · 2024: 74 · 2023: 86 · 2022: 107 · 2021: 102 · 2020: 105 · 2019: 80 · 2018: 122 · 2017: 90 · 2016: 96 · 2015: 121 · 2014: 103 · 2013: 122 · 2012: 115
FWCI: 146.52
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: American Journal of Political Science (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Capital and Networks
Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Electoral Systems and Political Participation
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
Keywords: social capital, citizen participation, interpersonal trust, community participation, life satisfaction, cognitive ability, economic resources, bidirectional relationship, latent variables, General Social Survey

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Individual-Level Evidence for the Causes and Consequences of Social Capital

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