Credibility Excess/Deficit

Credibility excess and deficit refer to how much trust or authority is given to individuals based on factors like their social identity, rather than their actual knowledge or expertise. For example, a person may be over-credited (excess) due to their social status, making their opinions seem more valid than they are, while another may be under-credited (deficit) because of biases related to race, gender, or class, leading to their valuable insights being dismissed. This concept is important in understanding epistemic injustice, where people's experiences and knowledge are unfairly evaluated, affecting whose voices are heard and valued in society.