Modern practices of sociological study of the phenomenon of trust

The paper provides an overview of the main modern practices of the sociological study of trust. The author suggests various grounds to classify trust as a social phenomenon. Based on the analysis of the subject and content of scientific publications in well-known sociological journals, as well as taking into consideration results of trust studies conducted by domestic and foreign sociological organizations, this study concludes that there is a diversity and heterogeneity of approaches to the study of this universal social phenomenon. Currently, most studies do not intend to analyze the social nature and structure of trust comprehensively. First, a researcher of trust is to determine what type of trust is to be measured. In turn, the most relevant approach to determine the structure of trust involves the allocation of its three main levels: personal (psychological), group (socio-psychological) and institutional (social). Moreover, considering trust as a specific social setting of the individual one can designate these levels as emotional, behavioral, and cognitive. An analysis of contemporary experience in a sociological study of trust shows how versatile and complex this phenomenon appears to researchers. The humanities have yet to develop common approaches to the classification and systematization of trust as a social phenomenon.