Embedded trust: Control and learning

Abstract

This paper discusses two mechanisms through which social embeddedness can affect trust among actors in cooperative relations. Trust can be based on past experiences with a partner or trust can be built on possibilities for sanctioning an untrustworthy trustee through own or third-party sanctions. These two mechanisms are labeled learning and control. The mechanisms are often left implicit or discussed in isolation in earlier research. Learning and control can operate at different levels: at the dyadic level and at the network level. We argue that for understanding trust the two mechanisms should be studied simultaneously, theoretically as well as empirically. We show that this is more easily said than done by addressing some of the theoretical as well as empirical issues. We offer preliminary evidence of the simultaneous working of the learning and control mechanisms at the dyadic level and the network level.

Citation

Buskens, V. and Raub, W. (2002), "Embedded trust: Control and learning", Advances in Group Processes (Advances in Group Processes, Vol. 19), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 167-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0882-6145(02)19007-2