Definition Of Trust

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Throughout the years, trust has evolved into one of the most important words in the English language. Derived from the Old Norse term, “traustr”, meaning “strong” or “firm”, trust now becomes a word of bondage that is crucial in the development and maintenance of relationships. Dictionary.com defines this term as, “reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence” (“Trust” 1). With that being said, the foundation of any friendship or, beneficial relationship, begins with trust. To further analyze the meaning of trust, the different perceptions of trust and distrust need to be compared. Over time, society has developed a new way to perceive trust and distrust. The “old” way of thinking suggested that …show more content…

There are many different interpretations of trust and how do they differ among each other? To identify the true definition of trust, the previous question must be answered. The three most important interpretations of trust include: trusting in, trusting with, and trusting to someone. Trusting in someone refers, “to have a strong belief in the goodness or ability of (someone or something)” (“Trust” 2). A good example of this would be in religion. People trust in God, or some other deity in their religion, to watch over them, protect them, and guide them. Although this is a very important kind of trust, it doesn’t have the same kind of effect on relationships as the others. Next, trusting with somebody will be discussed. This version involves the process of trusting someone with something; an item that has sentimental value to you. For example, a boy’s parents may trust him with the house for the weekend while they are out of town. This type can be very impactful on the building of relationships; however, it only deals with something that is material. The last type of meaning of trust, refers to trusting to someone. This type suggests that this is the kind of trust when a person relies on another to get something they desire. For example, “I trust you to make the right decision”, would represent this type of trust. This meaning is very powerful, and is the most

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