Pluralistic Ignorance Definition: 3 Pluralistic Ignorance Examples

Pluralistic ignorance is a social psychology concept that revolves around the idea people misjudge how large groups of people feel about various issues.

Consider Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes” as a classic case of pluralistic ignorance. As the emperor parades through the streets, everyone watching him thinks every other person believes he’s wearing clothes. This leads them to doubt their own sensory and rational faculties out of peer pressure. Eventually, a child points out the emperor wears no clothes, proving pluralistic ignorance dissipates in the light of confidence and common sense.

Floyd H. Allport, considered the father of experimental social psychology, pioneered this field of research with help from two of his students (Daniel Katz and Richard Schanck) in the early to mid-twentieth century. Since then, social psychologists like Cathy McFarland, Dale T. Miller, and Hubert J. O’Gorman have made substantial contributions to how and why pluralistic ignorance operates as well.

When it comes to pluralistic ignorance, various different causes deserve attribution. Consider these three common sources of the phenomenon:

1. 1. Fear: Each member of a group feels anxiety about the rest of the group stereotyping or excluding them. As such, fear is one of the key reasons pluralistic ignorance is so common. If you believe everyone around you believes something different than you do, you’ll feel outnumbered and intimidated to share your own thoughts. This fear can metastasize throughout an entire society to the point a majority of people believe they’re in the minority for holding the beliefs they do.
2. 2. Lack of communication: In personal relationships, pluralistic ignorance often crops up due to a lack of effective communication. When people communicate openly, there’s no room for this sort of ignorance to take root in the first place. If there’s a climate of distrust, however, it’s likely people will play their cards close to the chest.
3. 3. Misunderstandings: Pluralistic ignorance is a form of cognitive dissonance writ large. In many cases, a simple misunderstanding can grow into a deeply held conviction about society as a whole. For instance, studies show men generally feel uncomfortable when other men talk explicitly about their sexual behavior, but they refuse to speak up about it because they think they would be in the minority for vocalizing such discomfort.

Misperceptions fuel pluralistic ignorance in a vast array of different scenarios. Here are three examples to consider:

1. 1. Alcohol consumption in college: Multiple studies show college students believe their peers expect them to engage in excessive alcohol use. Ironically, the same studies indicate these students don’t want to drink such large quantities themselves. Regardless, this misperception fuels a culture of alcohol abuse on many different campuses.
2. 2. Lack of action in crowds: The bystander effect—an offshoot of pluralistic ignorance in general—refers to how people in crowds often won’t act because they believe someone else will. They experience a diffusion of responsibility, a belief someone else will take the lead and put the onus of ethical behavior on themselves. The murder of Kitty Genovese in New York City, watched by multiple onlookers, is an oft-cited example of this.
3. 3. Political beliefs: Various studies indicate many people hold a majority political viewpoint yet believe they’re in the minority. For instance, in the Jim Crow South, racial segregation persisted at least in part because people believed they were in the minority to believe it was unjust. Once it became clear public opinion was against these racist policies, a resultant attitude change followed.

Everyone can fall prey to cognitive biases. Keep these tips in mind as you try to keep pluralistic ignorance from influencing your own behavior:

• Ask people what they think. Reach out to people and earnestly inquire about what they believe. Remember it’s okay to disagree with someone or an entire group of people. You may all stand to gain from such open dialogue, as it becomes clear perceived norms are less ironclad than you thought prior to your conversation.
• Stick to your principles. Even if you confirm group norms go against your conscience, stay true to yourself. It can be scary to feel like your social identity is at risk, but public support for all sorts of issues can change. When you stick to your value set, you’ll be better able to remain confident in yourself over time.
• Understand how common pluralistic ignorance is. People misperceive what other people believe constantly. This gives rise to a false consensus on all sorts of different issues, potentially leading to the rise of social norms a majority of people disagree with in the first place.

You don’t need a big platform to make a difference. Gain access to the MasterClass Annual Membership for exclusive lessons from Malala Yousafzai and learn how your small actions can help build a movement.