The effect of prior incarceration on trust and social support: results from two factorial vignette studies

Social capital can help formerly incarcerated individuals navigate the challenges of life after prison. Yet, these individuals are unlikely to receive the trust from others that is necessary to build the relationships from which social capital and social support flow. To date, little research has examined individuals’ willingness to extend trust and provide social support to those who are reentering society. To help fill this void, two independent factorial vignette studies were conducted using university-based samples. Study 1 tested the effect of prior incarceration on participants’ willingness to trust. Study 2 examined whether participants provided more social support to recently incarcerated kin as opposed to recently incarcerated friends. Findings from both studies highlight some of the disadvantages formerly incarcerated individuals face when reentering society.