The "halo effect" refers to: a. the phenomenon in which a person with expertise or status in one area is given deference in all areas. b. the phenomenon in which the defense attorney is given deference even when he is clearly stretching the truth. c. the phenomenon in which a defendant is seen as innocent and naïve. d. the phenomenon in which the witness is a member of the clergy.

the phenomenon in which a person with expertise or status in one area is given deference in all areas

Explanation:

Halo effect is a cognitive bias in which overall impression of any person is formed based on perception of any one attribute of the person. It is the tendency of evaluating someone based on relating correlating one attribute to another.

Example can be when one is well dressed and posses calm demeanor. It is often seen that people judge him as well educated and with moral values. Thus well dressed mannerism has caused judgmental biasing that he is well educated as well.

Option A says that a person with expertise or status in one area is respected in other areas thus his expertise in specific area is causing halo effect to earn him deference in other areas as well. Thus Option A is correct answer.