Involuntary Beliefs Signal Trustworthiness

Not all beliefs are alike: action‑guiding 'regular' beliefs feel forced by reality, while 'credences' are chosen and often serve as social signals. A practical test for credibility is whether someone seems dragged 'kicking and screaming' to a conclusion rather than eagerly adopting it because it fits their group. Use this cue first on yourself to avoid turning it into a cheap dismissal of rivals. — This heuristic gives citizens, editors, and policymakers a concrete way to sort sincere claims from performative signaling in public debate.