Trace why you trust each source
Trace each trusted source to whether trust stems from demonstrated expertise, emotional resonance, social proof, first-encounter effects, or algorithmic repetition to detect unexamined authority delegations.
When This Fires
- During authority audits (Quarterly authority audit) when examining each trusted source
- When you notice yourself trusting a source and can't articulate why
- When a trusted source's recommendation conflicts with your analysis — check the trust basis before deferring
- Complements Separate reasoning from credentials (separate reasoning from credentials) with the trust-origin taxonomy
Common Failure Mode
Confusing emotional resonance with demonstrated expertise: "I trust this author because their work always resonates with me." Resonance means they tell you what you want to hear — it says nothing about whether their information is accurate. The author who resonates most may be the one who most effectively confirms your existing biases.
The Protocol
(1) For each trusted source, ask: "Why do I trust this source?" (2) Map the answer to one of five origins: Demonstrated expertise: I've observed them being reliably right over time in their domain. Emotional resonance: their message feels true, validates my experience, or aligns with my values. Social proof: many respected people trust them, or they're widely recommended. First-encounter: they were my initial source in this domain and became my default. Algorithmic repetition: I've been exposed to them frequently through feeds and recommendations. (3) For demonstrated expertise → maintain trust, but verify scope boundaries. (4) For any other origin → the trust is unexamined. Seek independent evidence of reliability before continuing to defer. The source may prove excellent — but the trust should be earned through evidence, not granted through psychological mechanisms.