A Role‐Mediated, Motivational Account of Interpersonal Trust

ABSTRACT Social interactions rarely occur with persons in the abstract. Rather, we engage with parents, teachers, neighbours—that is, persons in various capacities, as occupants of social roles. If social interactions are role‐mediated, then interpersonal trust must also be directed at persons in their roles. While Baier (1992) acknowledged that most trust is placed in individuals in their roles, she did not explore the mechanisms of role‐mediated interpersonal trust. This paper takes up that task. I advance a role‐mediated, motivational account of interpersonal trust: when X trusts Y to Φ , X trusts Y as an occupant of role R , expecting Y to fulfil trust expectations for the right reasons. Trustworthiness, consequently, requires Y meeting trust expectations as well as doing so with appropriate motives. The appropriate motives, as I argue, are also tied to the trustee's social role. This theory contrasts with Kelsall's (2025) recent account, which, while rightly emphasising the significance of roles in interpersonal trust, defends a motive‐neutral approach. Although I share Kelsall's emphasis on the centrality of roles, I question his motive‐neutral approach and propose a motivational alternative—one that also improves upon the mainstream motivational accounts.