The component and structure of interpersonal trust
Chao Fu,
Shuai Yang,
Mengying Zhai,
Tingjun Yong,
Chun Zheng,
Xueqin Ma,
Guangyan Hou,
Ping Su
Affiliations
Chao Fu
Department of Psychology, School of Education, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, PR China; Qinghai Cardio-Cerebrovascular Specialty Hospital, Qinghai High Altitude Medical Research Institute, Xining, 810012, PR China
Shuai Yang
Department of Psychology, School of Education, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, PR China
Mengying Zhai
Chengdu No.11 Kindergarten, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610042, PR China
Tingjun Yong
Department of Psychology, School of Education, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, PR China; School of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xian, Shaanxi, 710062, PR China
Chun Zheng
Qinghai Cardio-Cerebrovascular Specialty Hospital, Qinghai High Altitude Medical Research Institute, Xining, 810012, PR China; Department of Psychology, School of Education, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, PR China
Xueqin Ma
Qinghai Cardio-Cerebrovascular Specialty Hospital, Qinghai High Altitude Medical Research Institute, Xining, 810012, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, Qinghai Cardio-Cerebrovascular Specialty Hospital, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, PR China
Guangyan Hou
Department of Psychology, School of Education, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, PR China
Ping Su
Department of Psychology, School of Education, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, Qinghai, 810016, PR China; Corresponding author. School of Education, Qinghai Normal University, Haihu Avenue, Chengbei district, Xining city, Qinghai province, PR China.
Prior research has identified trust trait, trust expectation, trust risk and trust behavior as integral components of interpersonal trust. However, there still lack an in-depth exploration of the structural relationships among these integral components—how these integral components collectively constitute interpersonal trust. The current study innovatively proposed that interpersonal trust is anchored by individual trust trait, mediated by the dynamic equilibrium between trust risk and trust expectation, and culminates in trust behavior as the outcome. Interpersonal trust results from the synergistic interplay of individual and environmental factors. We called such structural relationships as the pyramid structure model of interpersonal trust, and proved its rationality by empirical evidence.
