Beliefs about corruption and its valuation in university students and graduates of Lima and Callao: an exploratory study

The present study explores the beliefs and attitudes towards corruption of a group of middle-class and university-educated young people in the cities of Lima and Callao (n=22). A qualitative study was developed through in-depth interviews with a guide that inquired about three central themes (1) the conceptions about corruption, (2) the characteristics attributed to corruption and (3) the intention to become involved in acts of corruption. The results are contrasted with the definitions that from various organizations and from the social sciences have been developed on the subject. Specifically, participants identify three general conceptions of corruption. The structural conception of corruption defines it as a phenomenon rooted in institutions and normalized in society. The cultural definition presents corruption as a phenomenon with a historical foundation that influences people's identity, and the definition of direct corruption, which includes the daily manifestations of acts of corruption. The representation of the phenomenon is mostly negative, however there are some reasons when its presence is considered legitimate or necessary. Finally, the discussion shows how corruption erodes trust and affects life in society through the damage caused to the public sphere.