Particularistic Trust and General Trust: A Network Analysis in Chinese Organizations

In this paper, I examine the structural positions in two different types of networks and their relationship to trust. I propose two types of trust: particularistic which is trust in specific other individuals and general trust in colleagues and the organization as a whole. The findings suggest that both centrality in the friendship network and the go-between position in advice networks are related to particularistic trust towards the other individuals in the networks. Particularistic trust, in turn, is associated with the two kinds of general trust. I introduce the Chinese concept of pao to explain the Chinese dynamic of trust formation in interpersonal networks.