From Norms to Trust: The Luhmannian Connections between Trust and System
Abstract
This article explores the concept of trust put forth by Niklas Luhmann and Talcott Parsons. It shows the outline of Luhmann's theory of trust and its connections to his autopoietic systems theory. It also deliberates upon the role of trust in the Luhmannian research of future society as well as examines the role of trust in risk society and shows why norms, values and familiarity play only a peripheral role in today's society. Trust is a way to control everyday interaction of the future. But what are the challenges and limits of Luhmann's concept of trust?
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In comparison to trust, it is easier to build confidence because it does not require communication or mutual commitment by at least two actors, but emerges through the cognitive process of one single agent.
“In comparison to trust, it is arguably easier to build confidence, because it does not require any communication or mutual commitment by at least two actors, but rather emerges through the cognitive process of one single agent [48]; pp.175, 183-184 [34]; p. 50).”
From Blockchain as a confidence machine: The problem of trust & challenges of governance (2020) · cites this paper as [48]
It is more difficult to assess whether confidence exists in a given situation than trust, as its psychological quality is harder to identify.
“This also makes it more difficult to assess whether confidence exists in a given situation, as its psychological quality is harder to identify than the perceptible forms of communication involved in creating trust relationships [48]; p. 184).”
From Blockchain as a confidence machine: The problem of trust & challenges of governance (2020) · cites this paper as [48]
Confidence in a system ultimately depends on the level of trust or confidence that one has in the actors or institutions involved in higher-order systems.
“One the one hand, confidence in a system ultimately depends on the level of trust or confidence that one has in the actors or institutions involved in higher-order systems [10]; p. 104 [48]; p. 185).”
From Blockchain as a confidence machine: The problem of trust & challenges of governance (2020) · cites this paper as [48]
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- Authors
- Jalava, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Jalava, Janne
- Venue
- European Journal of Social Theory
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2003-05
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 173-190
- ISSN
- 1368-4310 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7137
- OpenAlex
- W2118831350
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 6 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 5.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Social Theory (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › German Social Sciences and History
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Capital and Networks
- Keywords
- trust, Niklas Luhmann, Talcott Parsons, autopoietic systems theory, norms, values, familiarity, risk society, future of humanity, social control, everyday interaction
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