Datensatz

Zusammenfassung

What makes trust such a powerful concept? In this book, Guido Möllering reviews a broad range of trust research and extracts three main perspectives adopted in the literature for understanding trust. Accordingly, trust is presented as a matter of reason, routine or reflexivity. Möllering argues that these perspectives imply, but cannot explain, 'suspension' - the leap of faith that is typical of trust. He therefore proposes a new orientation in trust research that places this essential element at the heart of the concept of trust. Beyond a purely theoretical line of argument, the author discusses implications for empirical studies and presents original case material. He shows how trust research can contribute to broader research agendas concerning the constitution of positive expectations in the face of prevalent uncertainty and change at various levels in our economies and societies. The book is essential reading for anyone who wants to gain a thorough understanding of trust. It can serve as a general introduction for advanced students and scholars in the social sciences, especially in economics, sociology, psychology and management. For more experienced researchers, it is a challenging and provocative critique of the field and a new approach to understanding trust.