Trust, like power and equality, is reducible to structural terms

Evidence

As a reductive term, trust is similar to other major theoretical terms such as power, equality, and justice that must be explained and are not primitive terms but are reducible to other terms. For many trust relationships, we can determine what these other terms are from the structures of those relationships, as in the account of mutual trust in ongoing exchange relations discussed in chapter 1. — Russell Hardin, Trust and Trustworthiness, 298

Categorization

Category: Definitional Content

• XREF: Directly parallels Luhmann’s systems sociology, where trust is likewise not a primitive but a mechanism reduceable to the structure of expectations in a system.

Related

• Trust rests on structural system guarantees that relieve individuals of risk assessment (similarity 0.84)
• Much everyday trust emerges from reciprocated, ongoing relationships rather than from isolated exchanges. (similarity 0.84)
• Trust is an over-flexible concept that demands precise definition. (similarity 0.83)
• Trust in trust takes several structurally distinct forms (similarity 0.83)
• Defining trust requires grounding it in mutual dependency relations (similarity 0.83)
• Trust is conceived both as one societal element and as social order itself (similarity 0.82)
• Trust stems from societal self-presentation conditions, not only individual strategies as Goffman holds. (similarity 0.82)
• Trust is regulated through symbol-feedback loops, not direct reality contact (similarity 0.81)
• In Luhmann’s framework, systemic trust is the general belief that societal systems function reliably, functioning as a mechanism that reduces complexity and enables smooth social interaction, and… (similarity 0.81)
• Primary emotional attachments ground trust that later extends far beyond them (similarity 0.81)
• Trust is a plastic concept that requires narrow specification to be useful (similarity 0.81)
• Trust reduces the complexity created by other people’s freedom (similarity 0.81)
• System trust rests on expectations that most won’t test the system (similarity 0.81)
• Trust is rational expectation about the trusted party’s self-interest (similarity 0.81)
• Trust relationships can be restricted to specific domains of competence (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Trust rests on structural system guarantees that relieve individuals of risk assessment #corroborates (0.90) — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 297
• Trust presupposes a structured environment supplied by the existence of other systems. #corroborates (0.85) — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 184