EffectEgocentric Bias · Entry 27
False Consensus Effect – when you think everyone agrees with you
Do you believe most people share your opinions and choices? That’s False Consensus Effect – the tendency to overestimate how much others agree with you.
Where it can show up
- Politics – you assume ‘all reasonable people’ support your views because your social circle does.
- Work – you think your idea is obviously the best, and you're shocked when colleagues disagree.
- Social media – you believe your opinions are widespread because your feed only shows similar views.
A practical countermeasure
- Remember that your circle isn’t the whole world – people with different views exist, even if you don’t interact with them.
- Check actual statistics – not all social media trends reflect the majority’s opinion.
- Be open to other perspectives – if a belief feels ‘obvious,’ ask yourself: am I just surrounded by like-minded people?
