Social Trust and Modern Economies: The Example of Shopping

Abstract

To trust people is to expect that they will act well, that they will take our interests into account, and that they are not attempting to harm us. When we trust, our positive expectations have two basic dimensions: motivation (the other intends to act well and does not intend to harm) and competence (the other has sufficient skills and knowledge to be capable of doing as required). A trustworthy person is one who has both good intentions and reasonable competence, such that others who assume she will act well in a variety of contexts are not likely to be disappointed. Trust is an attitude involving beliefs and expectations, dispositions, feelings, and behavior. Trusting, we are more likely to allow ourselves to be vulnerable to others, to willingly depend on others, and to cooperate with them. When we trust we typically feel relaxed, comfortable, safe, and at ease. Trust also affects our interpretation of other people, our sense of who they are and what they are doing.