Proposal for a Three-Dimensional Concept of Brand Trust
Components, which may seem distinct theoretically, may be detailed by conceiving trust as a
three-dimensional construct, in compliance with Rempel, Holmes, and Zanna’s (1985)
recommendations. Taking into account consumer interests concurs with the idea of reciprocity,
a fundamental factor in the paradigm of exchange, defined as the moral obligation to give
something in return for the (consumer) good one has received (Smith-Ring and Van de Ven,
1992). Differentiating between the presumption of capability and the presumption of honesty
also makes it possible to distinguish two sources of trust, one stemming from technical skills
and the other stemming from ethical proficiency (Landowski, 1989).
Therefore, this research paper adopts the following definition of the trust concept in the
consumer-brand relationship. From the consumer standpoint, brand trust is a psychological
variable mirroring a set of accumulated presumptions involving the credibility, integrity and
benevolence that a consumer attributes to the brand.