Determinants of Trust and Distrust in the Context of Values: The Relationship between Trust and Distrust with Value Systems Among High School Students in Aydın-Turkey

In the late 20th century, social trust in the social sciences was regarded as an outdated phenomenon from past, but it was soon realised that this perspective was a mistake. In late modern society, with the differentiation in lifestyles, individualisation, reflexive modernity and the rise of risk society, the concept of trust has become central to social research. This importance and interest in trust stems from the central role that trust plays in both modern and late modern societies. In many respects, the current period can be characterised as an age of risk and uncertainty, even a crisis society. In this context, according to numerous studies, it is observed that insecurity is increasing both on a local and global level. Although there are many studies, it is observed that these studies mostly focus on the relationship between certain values (e.g. materialistic values) and social trust. On the other hand, the fact that this empirical research was conducted in Turkey is important in terms of risk society and trust research because Turkey has the lowest level of trust compared to OECD countries, especially post-industrial countries. The empirical part of the study is based on a survey of 2200 high school students in different types of high schools in Aydın. The findings of the study point to a significant network of relationships between prevalent value systems among young people and social trust and distrust. In other words, findings contribute to the understanding of the nature of the relationship between value systems and the problem of trust and mistrust, which is one of the most common social problems of today and deeply affects social relations, have been reached. Finally, it is thought that revealing the values that increase trust and the qualities of common values in insecure individuals will contribute to the field.