Connotation, Theory and Prospects of Trust Repair

Abstract

Trust repair refers to the process after trust violation in which the trustor and the violator make joint efforts to restore trust to its pre-violation level. Key theories include attribution theory, social equilibrium theory, structural mechanism theory, and the two-way trust repair model. Building on prior work, this paper proposes a hierarchical decision-making model of trust repair that integrates attribution, context, and interpersonal factors, examines the transition between trust and violation states, clarifies the internal mechanism of trust repair, and offers a solid theoretical basis for empirical research.