Question

What is the false consensus effect, in terms of social cognition?

a. Overestimating the prevalence of one's opinions and beliefs
b. Underestimating the impact of social norms
c. Ignoring the role of situational factors in behavior
d. Minimizing individual differences in perception

Answer 1

The false consensus effect in social cognition is the overestimation of the prevalence of one's own opinions and beliefs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The false consensus effect, in terms of social cognition, involves overestimating the prevalence of one's opinions and beliefs. It is a cognitive bias where individuals tend to believe that their own opinions or beliefs are more popular or widely shared than they actually are.

Answer 2

a. Overestimating the prevalence of one's opinions and beliefs

The false consensus effect refers to the tendency of individuals to overestimate the prevalence of their own opinions and habits in the general population.

Step-by-step explanation:

The false consensus effect is a phenomenon within social cognition where people tend to overestimate the extent to which their opinions, beliefs, preferences, values, and habits are normal and typical of those of others (i.e., that others also hold the same opinions). Essentially, it is when an individual assumes that their personal qualities, characteristics, beliefs, and actions are more common among the general population than they actually are. This effect can lead to a perception that there is a consensus that agrees with their viewpoints, when in fact, this might not be true.

For example, if you frequently use public transportation and believe it to be the most convenient mode of transit, you might overestimate the number of people who share this opinion, assuming it is the common choice, when in actuality, many may prefer to drive personal vehicles.