Editing Credibility (section)

==Rhetoric==
Credibility dates back to [[Rhetoric (Aristotle)|Aristotle's theory of Rhetoric]]. Aristotle defines [[rhetoric]] as the ability to see what is possibly persuasive in every situation. He divided the means of persuasion into three categories, namely [[Ethos]] (the source's credibility), [[Pathos]] (the emotional or motivational appeals), and [[Logos]] (the logic used to support a claim), which he believed have the capacity to influence the receiver of a message. According to Aristotle, the term "Ethos" deals with the character of the speaker. The intent of the speaker is to appear credible. In fact, the speaker's ethos is a rhetorical strategy employed by an orator whose purpose is to "inspire trust in his audience".

Credibility has two key components: trustworthiness and expertise, which both have objective and subjective components. Trustworthiness is based more on subjective factors, but can include objective measurements such as established reliability. Expertise can be similarly subjectively perceived, but also includes relatively objective characteristics of the source or message (e.g., credentials, certification or information quality).<ref>Flanagin and Metzger (2008), Digital media and youth: Unparalleled opportunity and unprecedented responsibility. In J. Metzger, & A. Flanagin (editors), Digitaingl media, youth, and credibility (pp. 5–28). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.</ref> Secondary components of credibility include source dynamism (charisma) and physical attractiveness.