How do we trust? What does the basic mechanism of trust look like? These questions define the
starting point for a comparison of the classic ideas of how trust works by Mayer et al. (1995),
M?llering?s (2006) re-adaption of Giddens?, Simmel?s, and James? classic ideas of trust, and a phenomenological
approach focusing on ?emergent trust.? Introducing the concept of emergent trust,
the idea is to suggest a phenomenological approach to studies of trust in work-life relationships in
professional organizations, as an alternative to trust as a cognitive attitude, where trust becomes a
stable, individual possession. The term ?emergent? demonstrates a trust that emerges in meetings
between persons, it has an immediate, unconditional quality, and shows itself in situations of life
where there is a potential for trust to appear. Trust?s basic relationality makes the person morally
responsible for the other. Trust appears between persons, as an event, constituting risk and uncertainty
as a natural and positive part of our lives. Still, in larger social settings, the responsibility of
trust also disperses on to the work itself, and our wider social networks.
