Socio-Cognitive Model of Trust: Basic Ingredients - Trust Theory: A Socio-Cognitive and Computational Model - page 69

Zone A

Zone C

1 Zone A: Actual Dangers

4

3 Zone B: Consequences of

X's choice: Risks

Zone B

5b

2 Zone C: Foreseen Dangers

Zone D

6

7 5a Zone D: Taken Risks

Figure 2.8 Risk Map

affect everybody living on earth no matter what their previous behavior was. It is important to
combine these two dimensions: awareness and dependence.
The subject perceives, expects certain possible dangers: of course, he might be wrong.
Thus some 'perceived', 'anticipated' risks are just 'imaginary': X believes that something
is dangerous or that there is an incumbent risk, but he is simply wrong. Let's notice that
frequently enough the lack of trust or distrust is due to an over-estimation of possible risks.
Some of those viewed, imagined risks are put aside, not taken into account in the decision,
as unbelievable, too implausible, not to be considered. Others are, on the contrary, taken into
account in and for the decision.
To 'take' a risk presupposes in our vocabulary that X assumes that such a risk is there
and nevertheless decides to go in that direction. He knows (believes/assumes) and decides
to expose himself to those dangers. Notice that X also 'takes' the imaginary risks; while he
doesn't take the risks that don't realize at all, or that he has put aside. Trust is a subjective state
and decision; thus what matters are not actual risks or safety, but the perceived safety and the
believed risks. Not all the risks to whom X is exposed thanks to a given decision are 'taken'.
We can resume the situation in the Figure 2.8.
This is where, about the specific intersections we have:

zone 1 represents actual possible but unperceived dangers not due to X 's choice
zone 2 represents actual possible but unperceived dangers due to X 's choice

zone 5 represents Imagined (actual or unrealistic) dangers not taken into account
in the decision

zone 6 represents Imaginary risks (consequences of X 's choice) evaluated in the
decision, and thus “taken”

zone 7 represents Actual risks (consequences of X 's choice) evaluated in the
decision, and thus “taken”

zone 3 + zone 5b + zone 6 represent imaginary dangers ; perceived but not real

zone 4 + zone 5a + zone 7 represent perceived and realistic dangers