Pluralistic Ignorance Research Articles

Losses, hopes, and expectations for sustainable futures after COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense distress but also created opportunity for radical change. Two main avenues for recovery from the pandemic have been discussed: A “back to normal” that foregrounds economic recovery, and a sustainable and progressive “build back better” approach that seeks to address global problems such as inequality and climate change. The article reports two experiments conducted on representative British and American samples (N = 600 and N = 800, respectively, for the two experiments) that show that people in both countries overall prefer a progressive future to a return to normal, although that preference is stronger on the political left and center-left with ambivalence prevailing on the right. However, irrespective of political leanings, people consider a return to normal more likely than a progressive future. People also mistakenly believe that others want the progressive scenarios less, and the return to normal more, than they actually do. The divergence between what people want and what they think others want represents an instance of pluralistic ignorance, which arises when public discourse is not reflecting people’s actual opinions. Publicizing public opinion is thus crucial to facilitate a future with broad support. In additional open-ended items, participants cited working from home, reduced commuting, and a collective sense of civility as worth retaining post pandemic.

The level of knowledge of diabetic prevention in Poland - is there a phenomenon of pluralistic ignorance?

The main aim of this work is to assess the level of knowledge about diabetes prevention and the consequences of untreated diabetes in the Polish society, as well as to indicate the variables that have a significant impact on that knowledge. The analysis is based on the results of the National Multicenter Health Survey - WOBASZ II. The number of subjects surveyed was 6170, including 2760 men and 3410 women, aged 20-74 years. Data on socio-demographic variables, lifestyle and subjective health assessment were collected using the face-to-face technique. The results obtained in the WOBASZ II project showed that >85% of the respondents had an unsatisfactory level of knowledge about diabetes prevention methods and approximately to 85% of the respondents - about the consequences of untreated diabetes. Moreover, one-fourth of the respondents were unable to identify a single way of preventing diabetes, and more than one-third could not identify a single disease caused by diabetes. The risk of a lack of knowledge about diabetes prevention and the consequences of untreated diabetes is more common for men, people with a low level of education, not married, non-diabetic, and without diagnosed diabetes in the family. The presented results indicate that there is an prevailing lack of knowledge about diabetes prevention and the consequences of untreated diabetes in the Polish society. It is associated with several variables like: sex, level of education, age, marital status, subjective health assessment and diabetes diagnosed in the respondent and/or in the respondent's family. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(5):667-78.

Questionable and Open Research Practices: Attitudes and Perceptions among Quantitative Communication Researchers

Abstract Recent contributions have questioned the credibility of quantitative communication research. While questionable research practices (QRPs) are believed to be widespread, evidence for this belief is, primarily, derived from other disciplines. Therefore, it is largely unknown to what extent QRPs are used in quantitative communication research and whether researchers embrace open research practices (ORPs). We surveyed first and corresponding authors of publications in the top-20 journals in communication science. Many researchers report using one or more QRPs. We find widespread pluralistic ignorance: QRPs are generally rejected, but researchers believe they are prevalent. At the same time, we find optimism about the use of open science practices. In all, our study has implications for theories in communication that rely upon a cumulative body of empirical work: these theories are negatively affected by QRPs but can gain credibility if based upon ORPs. We outline an agenda to move forward as a discipline.

Social norms misperception among voters in the 2020 US presidential election

AbstractWe aim to explain the dynamics enabling spikes in hate crimes by examining the underlying social‐psychological processes behind it. We see these as captured in empowerment processes among racists who see themselves as “victims” and their position strengthened by majority support from the public for their actions. Building on previous research, we investigated the role social norm misperception (false consensus and pluralistic ignorance), following elections plays as a possible, generally occurring mechanism, with particular focus on Republican Party supporters. In a two‐wave panel study, we surveyed Democrat and Republican supporters on social norms misperception, as well as collective empowerment, and xenophobic behavioral intentions. While we could replicate and strengthen our arguments and establish robust group‐dependent effects for social norms misperception and illustrate that an unexpected outcome of the election led to disempowerment among Republicans, we found null effects for changes in social norms misperception, and behavioral intentions. Our study contributes to understanding social norms misperception as associated with group membership. Deriving from that, the study results indicate that the perception of a majority agreeing with one's approval is potentially less influenced by external factors, in contrast to feelings of joy and group efficacy—collective empowerment. Practical implications of group differences regarding post‐election collective actions are discussed.

ダイバーシティ信念をめぐる多元的無知の様相：職場におけるズレの知覚と誤知覚1）, 2）

ダイバーシティ信念をめぐる多元的無知の様相：職場におけるズレの知覚と誤知覚1）, 2）

Supplemental Material for The Misjudgment of Men: Does Pluralistic Ignorance Inhibit Allyship?

Supplemental Material for The Misjudgment of Men: Does Pluralistic Ignorance Inhibit Allyship?

Pluralistic Ignorance Research in Psychology: A Scoping Review of Topic and Method Variation and Directions for Future Research

Pluralistic ignorance occurs when group members mistakenly believe others’ cognitions and/or behaviors are systematically different from their own. More than 20 years have passed since the last review of pluralistic ignorance from a psychological framework, with more than 60 empirical articles assessing pluralistic ignorance published since then. Previous reviews took an almost entirely conceptual approach with minimal review of methodology, making existing reviews outdated and limited in the extent to which they can provide guidelines for researchers. The goal of this review is to evaluate and integrate the literature on pluralistic ignorance, clarify important conceptual issues, identify inconsistencies in the literature, and provide guidance for future research. We provide a comprehensive definition for the phenomenon, with a focus on its status as a group-level phenomenon. We highlight three areas of variation in particular in the current scoping review: variation in topics assessed, variation in measurement, and (especially) variation in methods for assessing the implications of individual-level misperceptions that, in aggregate, lead to pluralistic ignorance. By filling these gaps in the literature, we ultimately hope to motivate further analysis of the phenomenon.

Pluralistic ignorance, risk perception, and the governance of the dark side in peer-to-peer transactions: Evidence from the Indian banking industry

This paper investigates the role of pluralistic ignorance as a credible governance mechanism mitigating the emergence of the dark side in peer-to-peer transactions. Using the empirical context of the Indian banking industry, this paper identifies three underlying dimensions of pluralistic ignorance arising from firm, relationship, and institutional factors and links them to peer-to-peer transaction preferences, especially under conditions of uncertainty. By focusing on a particular type of interorganizational relationship that is recurrent but devoid of specific asset investment, this paper provides an alternative governance mechanism that complements the formal and relational contract-based approaches to mitigating the dark side in interorganizational transactions prevalent in the existing literature.

Pluralistic Ignorance as a Contributing Factor to Concussion Underreporting

Concussion underreporting is endemic, and social norms are an established predictor of concussion reporting behavior. However, pluralistic ignorance-a situation in which most individuals in a group hold the belief that their peers' views differ from their own, despite views actually being similar-has not been studied in this context. To assess whether pluralistic ignorance contributes to concussion underreporting. We surveyed 2,504 military service academy cadets. Each cadet was presented with a survey asking about their willingness to self-report a concussion, their perception of other cadets' willingness to report a concussion, and personal and demographic factors. Most cadets viewed themselves as more willing to report a concussion than others (mean difference = 1.12, 95% CI [1.02, 1.21]), a belief consistent with pluralistic ignorance. Demographic characteristics were associated with holding this belief. For example, female cadets and upper-class cadets were more likely to show this disparity than male or under-class cadets, respectively. Collegiate athletes not only showed similar willingness to report concussion as nonathletes but also perceived other cadets as less likely to report concussions. Meanwhile, future pilots showed less self-report willingness and perceived that others were similarly unwilling to report concussions. A majority of this economically and geographically diverse population displays characteristics of pluralistic ignorance: They largely share proconcussion reporting sentiments but incorrectly perceive that others do not. This belief is not held uniformly in all subpopulations, which may inform how these beliefs are developed and maintained. Pluralistic ignorance is an important consideration in concussion education efforts.

A study on the influence of the media contents use and personal characteristics on the perception of marriage: Focusing on pluralistic ignorance

This study examines the phenomenon of pluralistic ignorance in their perception of marriage among university students, and examines the influence of media usage and personal characteristics on pluralistic ignorance. This study conducted a questionnaire survey of university students. Regression analysis was performed to verify whether media usage and personal characteristics affect pluralistic ignorance. In order to grasp the pure influence of each variable on pluralistic ignorance, a hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to analyze the influence of the independent variable after controlling other predictive variables. As a result of this study, it was found that the degree of involvement in marriage had a positive effect on the pluralistic ignorance of marriage. And as a result of analyzing the effect of media's use of individual content genres on individual's pluralistic ignorance, it was found that the use of drama and film genres of TV had a positive effect on the pluralistic ignorance of marriage perception. And it was found that age had a positive effect on the pluralistic ignorance of marriage. Future research from the perspective of pluralistic ignorance needs to be activated in fields related to various social phenomena or marketing activities.

Look Up, Look Down: Articulating Inputs and Outputs of Social Media Social Comparison

Computer-mediated social comparisons have been identified as a threat to psychological well-being. Because online friends selectively self-present, social comparisons may be biased upward, producing feelings of inadequacy. However, earlier evidence consistently confounded social comparative thoughts with causes or outcomes. A cross-sectional survey (N = 163) tested how traits, motivations, selectivity, and mood management influence computer-mediated downward and upward social comparison, and how comparison influences affect, self-esteem, and peer misperceptions. Results indicated age, social comparison orientation, mood modification, selectivity, and Facebook intensity produced social comparisons. Younger, frequent users made more upward comparisons, while mood modifiers made more downward comparisons. Comparing upward boosted negative affect, harmed self-esteem, and produced pluralistic ignorance. Downward comparisons enhanced self-esteem and reduced pluralistic ignorance about offline friends.

The Probability of Pluralistic Ignorance

The Probability of Pluralistic Ignorance

Presentation

We are pleased to present to the Brazilian and international philosophical community the third number of the twenty-one volume (2020 - September-December) of Unisinos Journal of Philosophy, which consists of eight articles and one book review. The excellent articles published in this number deal with varied topics, such as the moral dimension of torture, the indispensability of i-desires, the belief and pluralistic ignorance, the influence of Hume’s theory of passions on Smith’s moral theory, the priority of injustice, the strength of the ethics of alterity, an objection to Chalmers’s conceivability argument and an objection against Searle’s ontological subjectivity of consciousness thesis. It also has an important review that analyzes tyranny in Plato’s Republic.

Belief and pluralistic ignorance

Pluralistic ignorance is usually analyzed in terms of social norms. Recently, Bjerring, Hansen and Pedersen (2014) describe and define this phenomenon in terms of beliefs, actions and evidence. Here I apply a basic epistemic approach to belief – believers consider their beliefs to be true –, a basic pragmatic approach to belief – beliefs are useful for believers – and a mixed epistemic-pragmatic approach – believers consider their believes to be true and such considerations are useful – to pluralistic ignorance phenomena. For that, I take the definition given by Bjerring et al. (2014).Keywords: Truth, pragmatism, epistemic belief, pragmatic belief.

The Impact of Laws on Norms Perceptions.

When opinions in a society change toward more or less tolerance of a group, people do not necessarily see it. Drawing on a quasi-representative survey (Study 1, N = 830) and a natural experiment (Study 2, N = 437), we investigated people's perceptions of the societal norms toward sexual minorities and the influence of laws on these (mis-)perceptions. Study 1 indicated pluralistic ignorance as participants overestimated the societal disapproval toward same-sex issues. Complementing this finding, Study 2 found that informing participants about a new law legalizing stepchild adoption decreased perceived societal disapproval of same-sex parenting compared with participants not informed about the law. Pluralistic ignorance, however, was not affected by the new law. While results indicate that pluralistic ignorance may be more resilient to change, they also highlight that laws can have a dual impact on societies, changing not only the legal situation but also shifting perceptions of societal norms.

Why Dominance Incites Deference: A Social Norms Account

Behavioral displays of dominance are a widely documented antecedent to high social rank in both human and non-human species. Yet the reasons dominant actors incite deference in others are not entirely clear. In contrast to extant explanations that suggest the intent to defer is a direct effect of the dominant actor on the individual target, we predicted that the intent to defer to a dominant actor can also be caused by the indirect effect of a norm of deference that is evident in others’ behavior. Specifically, we hypothesized that the targets of dominance assume, based on a norm of deference, that others respect dominant actors more than they do themselves, and that this assumption predicts the intention to defer over and above targets’ direct perceptions of the dominant actor. Consistent with our hypotheses, the studies reported here show that, on average, individuals exhibit a self-other difference in status conferral judgments towards dominant actors such that they think others respect, admire, and esteem dominant actors more than they themselves do. Perceptions of others’ status conferrals predicts the intent to defer to dominant actors above and beyond individuals’ direct perceptions of dominant actors. Results document a novel pathway through which dominance incites deference, are indicative of the potential for pluralistic ignorance about the value of dominance in groups, and highlight the central role of social norms in hierarchical stratification and maintenance.

A concept analysis of the bystander effect in road traffic injuries: A hybrid model

IntroductionThe bystander effect, or bystander apathy, occurs at the scene of road traffic accidents. It is a theory that states that individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when there are other people present. This study aims to perform a concept analysis of the bystander effect at the scene of road traffic accidents in the Iranian context.MethodsA concept analysis was performed using a hybrid method recommended by Schwartz-Barcott in three phases: a theoretical analysis, field work and final analysis. In the theoretical phase, a literature review was conducted using the databases PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Ovi and Iran-doc, with the relevant studies analysed. In the field work, interviews were carried out with eight medical emergency personnel followed by a qualitative content analysis of the transcriptions. In the last phase, the final analysis was performed to provide a clear definition of the concept.ResultsIn the theoretical phase related to the concept of the bystander effect, some characteristics, such as the presence of strangers, social influence, pluralistic ignorance, self-safety, victim’s unstable conditions, lack of awareness and presence of medical emergency personnel were identified. In the final analysis phase, a definition was achieved to be provided in the following sections, by integrating the two theoretical and field work phases. ConclusionThe results of this study could pave the way for future studies to further develop the concept of the bystander effect in different cultures and help develop a tool for the further assessment of this phenomenon.

Intergroup fears and concerns among minority and majority groups: Implications for contact and attitudes

Driven by the literature on pluralistic ignorance, our research investigates fear of appearing racist, being rejected, discriminated, and disinterest in intergroup contact as antecedents of contact and outgroup attitudes, focusing on attributional differences between the majority and minority group perspectives. Questionnaires were distributed in schools in Northern Italy. Participants were 400 Italian and 141 immigrant high-school students. The results showed that the lack of interest in contact was the strongest predictor of contact for the majority group. For the minority group, fear of rejection emerged as the strongest predictor. The majority group attributed the minority to avoid contact most strongly due to the fear that they would be rejected, and the minority group perceived it was due to the majority not being interested in contact. Our research contributes to understanding the divergent concerns the majority and minority groups have in relation to intergroup contact and discusses the importance of tackling these concerns.

Not Your Average Joe: Pluralistic Ignorance, Status, and Modern Sexism

A growing body of research has highlighted that men’s gender-related behaviors and choices are strongly influenced by the gendered beliefs they believe other men hold. However, limited research has sought to identify how men come to form opinions about what other men believe. Drawing from research on pluralistic ignorance, status, and masculinity, this study examines the role that high and low status men’s sexist behaviors have on the discrepancy between men’s own sexist beliefs and those they believe are held by most other men. Results from a series of online experiments show that men believe that “most men” are more sexist than themselves. Moreover, while the sexist acts of a low status man decrease men’s personal endorsement of sexist beliefs, the same acts by a high status man increased men’s personal endorsement of sexist beliefs. While personal beliefs were malleable, neither high nor low status men’s behaviors affected men’s perception of how sexist other men are. Together, these findings provide insight into the ways in which pluralistic ignorance and the sexist actions of high status men may contribute to systems of gender inequality.

Why Employees Contribute to Pro-Environmental Behaviour: The Role of Pluralistic Ignorance in Chinese Society

In light of the importance of sustainable development, this study aims to deepen and extend our understanding of employees’ pro-environmental behaviour in the workplace in a Chinese context. Drawing on the complex phenomenon of social norms theory concerning misperceptions (i.e., pluralistic ignorance) and supervisor–subordinate guanxi (which is a Chinese term signifying human connection), we present a novel model in which employees’ pro-environmental behaviour is the result of multiple social and individual psychological factors. Through the integration of previous literature from the fields of the psychology of individuals, social psychology, and environmental psychology, the major assumption is that the pro-environmental behaviour of employees is affected by their level of pluralistic ignorance, environmental concern, and subjective norms; these, in turn, are influenced by supervisor–subordinate guanxi and social identity in the collective spirit of Chinese society. Data, which were analysed empirically, were gathered from 548 Chinese employees from the Jiangsu province of China. This study consequently reveals the subtle interplay among employees’ pluralistic ignorance, supervisor–subordinate guanxi, social identity, subjective norms, environmental concern, and their pro-environmental behaviour, while the deeper analysis offers considerable support for environmental management research and practice.