credibility gap
Believability shortfall problem
A credibility gap is a disconnect between what someone claims and what people believe—typically between official statements and public perception of the truth.
The term emerged during the Vietnam War to describe skepticism toward government accounts of the conflict: The administration's optimistic reports widened the credibility gap.
It applies whenever authorities lose trust through perceived dishonesty or spin.
Disposition toward doubt
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- incredulityInability to accept something
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
questioning · wariness · misgivings · doubt · uncertainty · scrutiny · qualms · reservation
Deliberate untruths
- falsehoodsDeliberate untruths
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- propagandaBiased information for influence
spin · fabrication · manipulation · distortion · cover-up · whitewash · evasion · doubletalk
1970s political crisis
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- governmentAuthority over a state
- officialsThose holding formal power
politicians · press secretary · spokesperson · accountability · transparency · oversight · hearings · investigation
Society's shared attitudes
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- believabilityCapacity to seem true
- trustworthinessQuality of being reliable
- imageVisual or mental likeness
standing · legitimacy · authority · polls · ratings · approval · disapproval · sentiment
Lack of steady pattern
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- disconnectTo break a connection
- mismatchIncompatible combination
gap · divergence · discordance
skepticism
Disposition toward doubt
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- incredulityInability to accept something
cynicism · questioning · wariness · misgivings · doubt · uncertainty · scrutiny · qualms · reservation · hesitation
lies
Deliberate untruths
- falsehoodsDeliberate untruths
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
propaganda · spin · fabrication · manipulation · distortion · cover-up · whitewash · evasion · doubletalk · prevarication
Watergate
1970s political crisis
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- governmentAuthority over a state
officials · politicians · press secretary · spokesperson · accountability · transparency · oversight · hearings · investigation · whistleblower
public opinion
Society's shared attitudes
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- believabilityCapacity to seem true
- trustworthinessQuality of being reliable
image · standing · legitimacy · authority · polls · ratings · approval · disapproval · sentiment · confidence
inconsistency
Lack of steady pattern
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- disconnectTo break a connection
mismatch · gap · divergence · discordance
- LBJ EraLBJ, Great Society, Vietnam War, War on Poverty, Civil Rights Act
- Sixties Activismanti-war movement, anti-war protests, campus protests, counterculture, draft resistance
credibility gapcredibility
Quality inspiring trust
trustworthiness · public trust · believability · reliability · good faith
credibility, credit, credible, incredible, incredibly, credibly, incredibility, accredit, accreditation