SOME THEORETICAL PROPOSITIONS PERTAINING TO THE CONTEXT OF TRUST

Abstract

This conceptual paper focuses on trust and its context. Previous research indicates the importance of the specific‐situational nature of trust, which is affected by both interpersonal and organizational contextual factors. Hypotheses are formulated, and they revolve around trust and various interpersonal and organizational contextual variables. The interpersonal contextual factors included are the types of trustor‐trustee relationships, ethnicity of the trustors and trustees, perceived inequity, and the importance of a cooperative or noncooperative act to the receiving party. The organizational contextual factors included are politics, ownership structure, and organizational form. In addition to main effects, some of these variables may have interaction effects on trust. Also, the organizational contextual variables mediated by the interpersonal contextual variables may have indirect effects on trust.