Bowling alone but serving together: The congregational norm of community involvement

In contrast to European countries, people in the U.S. typically do not trust their government nor do they expect it to assist them in performing tasks that serve the needs of diverse groups (Inglehart et al. 1990). Government is typically expected to intervene only in those matters that affect a majority of citizens, and, as a result, Americans are often left with the choice of either attempting to influence governmental authorities to act or producing the desired goods themselves. Because they frequently need to produce these desired goods themselves, the most common way Americans influence their environment and become more empowered is through joining and forming voluntary, largely nonprofit associations.