While all these approaches have their merits none of them grasps the full range of developments in the move from hospital to community psychiatry. The rediscovery of a sociological term Lately trust is a very up to date topic. On the one hand, an increasing loss of trust is lamented that is seen as a threat to the integration of modern societies, on the other hand, it is pointed to the growing relevance of trust, especially for the construction and the success of networks. First of all, the article deals with the question of what we actually understand by the term from a sociological perspective. Several viewpoints of trust with regard to the theory of behaviour, system and structuration are presented and discussed.
Confidence is identified as a specific mode of coordination of actions.
This mode contains functions that structure interaction and system, but at the same time it is the result of acting. As it is subject to social as well as to social structure processes of transformation, also the change of relations of trust in the transition to modernity is pictured. In addition the reasons for the revival of trust are in question. The answer is given exemplary with view on the relevance of trust for modern organizations as well as for networks.