# Social Proof **Domain:** Social Psychology / Network Science **Doc Type:** Concept Node **Maturity:** Developed ## Definition Social proof is relational evidence inferred from the visible responses, affiliations, endorsements, and participation of other people. ## Mechanism Observers compress difficult questions about trust and standing into signals about who answers, welcomes, supports, or associates with whom. Networks display reputation through interaction. ## Significance Social proof can accelerate warranted trust or reproduce error, making the quality and authenticity of the underlying relationships decisive. ## Relationships - [[wiki/Social Capital|Social Capital]] - [[wiki/Information Credibility|Information Credibility]] - [[wiki/Peer Influence|Peer Influence]] ## Simple Reminders, Quotations, and Thoughts > “Social proof is compressed relational information. Observers read who answers whom and who is welcomed as evidence about standing and trust. Coalition-reading is an ancient social skill, and public interactions are how modern networks perform it.” > **— Bryant McGill**, *Building Social Capital for Social Good - Livestream (Mar 2016)* [[reminders/Social Capital/Social Proof Is Compressed Relational Information by Bryant McGill|Social Proof Is Compressed Relational Information by Bryant McGill]]