KA OBUHVATNOM POJMU POVERENJA
TOWARD A COMPREHENSIVE CONCEPT OF TRUST

Summary/Abstract: In this paper I will approach the phenomenon of trust from two angles. The first part of the paper will deal with empirical research of trust. I will outline five ongoing debates regarding the pros and cons of different types of such research, and subsequently point out that each side in these debates requires a more precise definition of trust. In the second part of the paper, I will start with the currently prevalent debate between those who equate trust with behaviour and those who define it as an expectation. I will talk about the problems of both these approaches, and also about the thesis that trust is a character trait. Although each of these options has its own merits, I will try to show that trust is a phenomenon that is too complex for any simple or straightforward definition. I conclude the paper by providing a comprehensive definition of trust, which includes some of the mentioned elements, but also several other significant aspects of the phenomenon, and which I hope can serve as a starting point in formulating future empirical research.

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