A non-costly action can still credibly signal sincere belief.
Evidence
To communicate a threat, one has to communicate the commitment that goes with it, and similarly with a promise; and to communicate a commitment requires more than communication of words. One has to communicate evidence that the commitment exists; this may mean that one can communicate a threat only if he can make the other person see something with his own eyes or if he can find a device to authenticate certain allegations. — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 342 (
#qualifies, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Costly public deeds signal genuine belief that words can fake; Credible religious commitment can be signaled by hard-to-fake involuntary displays; Credible commitment requires proof beyond mere assertion of intent. (+1 more)
Related
- Commitments must be communicated through evidence, not just words. (similarity 0.87)
- Costly public deeds signal genuine belief that words can fake (similarity 0.84)
- Credible commitment requires finding a penalty against one’s own nonperformance (similarity 0.82)
- Willing martyrdom acts as the ultimate credibility-enhancing display (similarity 0.82)
- A threat must be credible and credible threats require commitment (similarity 0.81)
- Credible threats can be conveyed by action rather than verbal pledge (similarity 0.80)
- Religious commitment signals are credible when they are hard to fake, not necessarily costly (similarity 0.79)
- Credible threats must attach penalties to observable acts, not intentions (similarity 0.79)
Broader Connections
- Credible religious commitment can be signaled by hard-to-fake involuntary displays
#exemplifies(0.90) - Credible commitment requires proof beyond mere assertion of intent.
#contradicts(0.75) - Commitments must be communicated through evidence, not just words.
#qualifies(0.72) — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 342