ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on trust in someone as part of the domain of interpersonal trust. It highlights that the conceptualisation of trust in academic writings varies considerably according to the theory, framework, model, or approach adopted by a researcher. The book describes the different approaches to the investigation of trust. The approaches include psychosocial theory, attachment theory, piagetian theory and generalised trust beliefs. According to the social capital approach, trust is a quality established among members of society, or social networks that bind individuals together and promote norms of reciprocal cooperation. There are two approaches to romantic trust: Attachment and Romantic-Faith. Social Contact and Exchange theories of trust are found in different disciplines: psychology, criminology, sociology, and organisational sciences.
