According to the charts above, how much has interpersonal trust declined since 1972 in the US?
How accurate was your prediction?
What most surprised you about this data?
What is one trend you see in the chart?
What are two factors that explain that trend?
What are two consequences of this trend?
Based on the trends in this chart and in the recent presidential election, what do you imagine the level of interpersonal trust in the US will be over the next eight years?
What effect do you imagine this lack of trust had on the most recent presidential election?
What effect do you imagine this presidential election had on the most recent presidential election?
What effect does this lack of trust have on American politics?
Do you trust most people?
Explain your answer.
How much do Americans trust the U.S. government?*
Why do you think people trusted the government so much more in 1960 than they do today?
How do you think the Trump presidency will impact American trust in the U.S. government?
Which branch of government is most trusted?*
Why do you think that is?
What questions do you have about this?
How different do you think this data would be in other countries?
Visual Extenion
Learning Extension
Check out all these amazing charts about trust from the inimitable Max Roser.
Action Extension
Complete our Trust Lab on our Commonweal Site then share your response on social media and in class.
