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Trust as a Process

A Three-Dimensional Approach

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

What is trust? Should trust be used as a variable or as a process? Is trust in people similar in nature to trust in institutions? These are three main questions I address in this article. I argue that trust is a complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon, which consists of a mix of trust in strong ties, weak ties, and institutions. I explain the need for a new approach to trust, using the Soviet Union as an example. I argue that rigid distinctions in social capital theory between high-trust and low-trust societies fail to account for the complexity of trust. In this article, I view trust as a process. I also suggest a new definition of trust based on the notion of agency, which underscores the idea of temporality and incorporates the roles of the past, present, and future.

Key Words: agency • definition of trust • Soviet Union • temporality • theory of trust

Sociology, Vol. 41, No. 1, 115-132 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0038038507072285


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