You Are Not So Smart 157 - Pluralistic Ignorance
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Jul 1, 2019 Deborah Prentice, a psychology professor at Princeton, and Rob Willer, a Stanford sociologist, dive into the intriguing phenomenon of pluralistic ignorance. They explain how groups can mistakenly believe the majority shares their views, leading everyone to conform to unpopular norms. Through examples like bystander inaction and campus drinking culture, they illustrate the impact of false beliefs on behavior. Willer introduces the concept of false enforcement, revealing how individuals silently support norms they privately disagree with, perpetuating conformity.
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Majority May Be Silent Majority
- Pluralistic ignorance occurs when everyone privately disagrees yet believes they are the minority.
- That shared false belief traps groups into following norms nobody actually supports.
Visibility Skews Perceived Majority
- Visible minorities and media coverage can make fringe views seem mainstream.
- That misperception preserves unpopular norms by influencing undecided people.
Vegetarian Coop Secretly Ate Meat
- James Kitts infiltrated vegetarian housing and found many secretly ate meat away from peers.
- Members overestimated peers' strictness and felt alone in wanting to lapse.
