An Integrated Spiral Model of Trust

Trust is an integral part of interpersonal relationships. Achieving trust is a goal in most relationships, although there are occasions when wariness and distrust are warranted instead. This chapter presents a new model of trust called the “Spiral Model of Trust” which incorporates concepts from a wide range of disciplinary perspectives. The theory’s propositions are meant to shed light on the extent to which trust, once established, remains relatively fixed, or spirals over time in response to the verbal and nonverbal behaviors of participants. Contexts for the application of the Spiral Model of Trust are explored.