BiasSocial judgment · Conformity Bias · Entry 152
Assumed Similarity Bias – when you think others are more like you than they really are
Do you assume most people think like you? That’s Assumed Similarity Bias – the tendency to believe others share your perspectives, preferences, and values more than they actually do.
Where it can show up
- Work & negotiations – you assume colleagues or clients agree with your ideas, but their priorities might be completely different.
- Friendships & relationships – you’re shocked when a friend or partner makes a choice you would never make.
- Politics & social beliefs – it feels like ‘all reasonable people’ think like you, even though the real range of opinions is much broader.
A practical countermeasure
- Ask instead of assuming – just because you share some interests doesn’t mean they think like you.
- Be open to different viewpoints – expecting similarity makes it harder to understand others.
- Check your expectations – if you’re surprised by someone’s choice, you might have assumed they were ‘just like you.’