Proximate Exposure to Conflict and the Spatiotemporal Correlates of Social Trust

How does exposure to conflict events shape social trust? Research in political psychology predicts that exacerbates group divisions, enhancing ingroup solidarities while simultaneously reducing outgroup trust. Experimental research has found support for these predictions, and yet measuring the impact of on trust beyond laboratory is difficult. For example, questions about lasting salience experimental treatments remain a challenge study conflict. We develop an empirical strategy using geo-coded individual-level survey data from Afrobarometer project conflict-event data. draw spatial temporal buffers around each respondent allow us test whether proximate correlates with lower trust, as well how far long lasts. find reduces generalized predicted. Contrary our expectations, we it investigate further suffers most when respondents live homogenous ethnic enclaves. Furthermore, advance argument effects are mitigated over distance time. Our results indicate effect diminishes both time space.