A Belief-Based Model of Trust

Abstract

In this chapter, we present a socio-cognitive analysis of trust. In this model trust is conceived as a crucial attitude useful for delegating or not a specific task, and it is strongly based on specific beliefs, and on different cognitive ingredients. Characterising the basic elements on which trust is founded is very important not only for a psychological view of this phenomenon but also for better understanding how this attitude works. This model allows to distinguish between internal and external attributions (to the trustee) and for each of these kinds of attribution it allows to distinguish among several sub-components: competence, disposition, unharmfulness and so on. The analysis of the trust concept tries to show the importance of its role in knowledge management and systems in organisations. Trust is strongly supported by the organisation roles and functions, but in order to really understand how organisations work it is necessary to explore such inter-relational notions as delegation and trust.