Socio-Cognitive Model of Trust: Basic Ingredients - Trust Theory: A Socio-Cognitive and Computational Model - page 51

dimensions of goals and beliefs:

% Bel X p t ; % Goal X p t

Where % in goals represents their subjective importance or value; while in beliefs % represents
their subjective credibility, their certainty.
An Exp (putting aside the epistemic goal) will be like this:

% Bel X p t % Goal X [

] p t

∧ ¬

The subjective quality of those 'configurations' or macro-attitudes will be very different
precisely depending on those parameters. Also, the effects of the invalidation of an Exp are
very different depending on:

(i) the positive or negative character of the Exp ;
(ii) the strengths of the components.

We also postulate that:

P2: The dynamics and the degree of the emergent configuration, of the macro-
attitude are strictly a function of the dynamics and strength of its micro-
components.

For example, anxiety will probably be greater when the goal is very important and the
uncertainty high, than when the goal is not so crucial or the certainty is high. Let us characterize
a bit some of these emergent macro-attitudes.
Hope and fear . 'Hope' is in our account (Miceli and Castelfranchi, 2010), (Miceli and
Castelfranchi, 2002) a peculiar kind of 'positive Exp' where the goal is rather relevant for the
subject while the prediction is not sure at all but rather weak and uncertain. 27

lo w Bel X p t high Goal X p t

∧

Correspondingly one might characterize being afraid, 'fear', as an Exp of something bad,
i.e. against our wishes:

% Bel X p t % Goal X ¬

p t

∧

but it seems that there can be 'fear' at any degree of certainty and of importance. 28
Of course, these representations are seriously incomplete. We are ignoring their 'affective'
and 'felt' component, which is definitely crucial. We are just providing their cognitive skeleton.

27 To be more precise, 'hope' contains just the belief that the event is 'possible', not that it is 'probable'.
28 To characterize fear another component would be very relevant: the goal of avoiding the foreseen danger; that is,
the goal of doing something such that Not p. This is a goal activated while feeling fear; fear 'conative' and 'impulsive'
aspect. But it is also a component of a complete fear mental state, not just a follower or a consequence of fear. This
goal can be quite a specified action (motor reaction) (a cry; the impulse to escape; etc.); or a generic goal 'doing
something' (“my God!! What can I do?!”) (Miceli and Castelfranchi, 2005). The more intense the felt fear, the more
important the activate goal of avoidance.