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> Trust theory > The socio-cognitive model
of trust
The socio-cognitive model of trust
We carefully analyse the ingredients
necessary to have the mental state of trust, i.e. the components and sources
of that estimated "subjective probability" about a partner's
behaviour identified by Gambetta in his classic theory. We specify which
beliefs and which goals characterise X's trust in another agent Y.
Given the overlap between trust and reliance/delegation, we need also
to clarify their relationship.
Trust is a mental attitude
Only a cognitive agent can trust another agent: only an agent endowed with goals and beliefs.
One trusts another only relatively to a goal, i.e. for something he wants to achieve, that he desires.
X is the relying agent, who feels trust; it is a cognitive agent endowed with internal explicit goals and beliefs; Y is the agent or entity which is trusted. Y is not necessarily a cognitive agent.
Since Y's action is useful to X, and X is relying on it, this means that X is "delegating" some action/goal in his own plan to Y. This is the strict relation between trust and reliance or delegation.
Basic beliefs in trust
In the most elementary case of trust and delegation, we have to consider that X has a goal G and tries to achieve it by using Y. Then X has some specific beliefs:
A positive evaluation of Y is necessary, X should believe that Y is useful for this goal of its, that Y can produce/provide the expected result, that Y can play such a role in X's plan/action, that Y has some function. Y is able to do what X requires.
X should think that Y not only is able and can do that action/task, but Y actually will do what X needs. With cognitive agents this will be a belief relative to their willingness: this make them predictable. Y will engage in this action X requires.
These are the two prototypical components of trust as an attitude towards Y. They are the real cognitive kernel of trust.
Trust and reliance
These kernel ingredients are not enough for arriving to a delegation or a reliance disposition. At least a third belief is necessary for this:
To trust Y and delegate to it, X believes that either X needs it, X depends on it (strong dependence) or at least that it is better to X to rely than do not rely on it (weak dependence).
These beliefs (plus the goal G) define X's "trust in Y" in delegation. However, another crucial belief arises in X's mental state, supported and implied by the previous ones:
X believes that G will be achieved (thanks to Y in this case). This is the "trust that" G.
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