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2.1 A Five-Part Relation and a Layered Model
In our view trust is a
relational
construct between:
An agent
X
(
the trustor
) (we will name Xania, a woman). This agent
X
is necessarily an
'intentional entity' (see intentional stance (Dennett, 1989)); let's say a 'cognitive agent',
that is, an agent with mental ingredients (beliefs, goals, intentions, and so on). Trust must be
(also) be extended in cognitive terms, as
X
's specific mental attitudes towards other agents
and about given tasks.
An addressee
Y
(
the trustee
) that is an 'agent' in the broader sense of this term (Castelfranchi,
1998; 2000a): an entity able to cause some effect (outcome) in the world; the outcome
X
is
waiting for. When
Y
is an intentional agent: we will name it Yody, and he is a man.
Such a 'causal' process (
the act, or performance
) and its result; that is, an act
α
of
Y
possibly
producing the outcome
p
; which is positive or desirable because it includes (or corresponds
to) the content of a goal of
X
(
Goal
X
(g)
=
g
X
), the specific goal for which
X
is trusting
Y
.We
g
.
g
X
=
Goal
X
(
g
)
is in fact a crucial element of the trust concept and relation, frequently omitted.
A context (
C
) or situation or environment where
X
takes into account
Y
(thus affecting
X
's
evaluation and choice of
Y
) and/or where
Y
is supposed to act and to realize the task (thus
affecting the possibility of success).
call this act:
Y
's
task:
τ
.
τ
is the couple (
α
,
p
), with
g
included in
p
or in some cases
p
≡
In other words, in our model trust is a five-part relation (at least):
TRUST
(
XYC
τ
g
X
)
(2.1)
that can be read as
X
trusts (
in
)
Y
in context
C
for
performing action
α
(executing task
τ
) and
realizing the result
p
(that includes or corresponds to her goal
Goal
X
(g)
g
X
).
A deep analysis of each component is needed, and a theory of their relationships and
variations.
=
2.1.1 A Layered Notion
As we said, we consider and analyze trust as a composed and
'layered' notion
, where the
various more or less complex meanings are not just in a 'family resemblance' relation, but are
embedded one into the other, and it is important the explicit theory of the relations between
those layers and of the
transition
from one to the other; since the most simple form can be
there without the richer one, but not vice versa.
As we said, in our theory there is a double link between these forms of trust (from
the dispositional one to the active one): a conceptual link and a process/causal link (see
Section 1.4).
Trust as a
layered notion
(see Figure 2.1) means:
in its basic sense just a mental (cognitive and affective
2
)
attitude
and
disposition
towards
Y
(
beliefs
:
evaluations
and
expectations
); this already is a social
relation
;
2
We will put aside here the affective nature of trust; trust as an intuitive disposition, as a feeling. Here we consider
trust as an explicit (and usually grounded) judgment. We dedicate the entirety of Chapter 5 to affective trust dispositions
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