Table 6 Comparison of different scholars’ classification of motivation to grant trust or legitimacy or the process in which this takes place, based on the principal’s perceptions about the agent and its conduct
From: Conceptual framework for increasing legitimacy and trust of sustainability governance
Category of motives | Description of motivation or process leading to granting of legitimacy or trust, based on the principal’s perception of the following: | Scholars (principle–agent) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aristotlea | Max Weberb | Mark C. Suchmanc | Thomson and Boutilierd | Burlea and Tomée | ||
(Individual-individual) | (Individual-public authority) | (Society-institution) | (Stakeholder-corporation) | (Individuals- organisations) | ||
Observation | Coherent, understandable, and meaningful activities or automatic conformance with developments in societal priorities | – | – | Cognitive legitimacy | – | – |
Competence, rule of law | – | Rational authority | – | – | Competent trust | |
Value | Positive normative judgment, shared values, and perceived benefits for society | – | Moral legitimacy | Socio–political legitimacy | – | |
Perceived high level of personal virtuousness and integrity | – | Charismatic authority | – | Referential trust | ||
Tradition | Tradition, and what has always been there (feudalism, religion) | – | Traditional authority | – | – | – |
Family or group identity | – | – | Identitary trust | |||
Altruism | Enduring mutual regard for each other’s interests | Friendship due to goodness | – | – | Institutionalised trust (identification) | Affective trust |
Reciprocity in interactions, where the agent listens and responds to the needs of the principal, keeps promises and engages in mutual dialogue | – | – | – | Interactional trust | Optimistic or mutual trust | |
Egoism, hedonism | Achieving self-interested benefits | Useful friendship | – | Pragmatic legitimacy | Economic legitimacy | Opportunistic trust |
Achieving pleasure | Pleasant friendship | – | – | – | – | |