Why it is important to speak up... Or, fighting "GroupThink"

[Ifly2]

The false-consensus effect or false-consensus bias is a cognitive bias whereby a person tends to overestimate how much other people agree with him or her. There is a tendency for people to assume that their own opinions, beliefs, preferences, values and habits are 'normal' and that others also think the same way that they do. This cognitive bias tends to lead to the perception of a consensus that does not exist, a 'false consensus'. This false consensus is significant because it increases self-esteem. The need to be "normal" and fit in with other people is underlined by a desire to conform and be liked by others in a social environment.


The false-consensus effect is not necessarily restricted to cases where people believe that their values are shared by the majority. The false-consensus effect is also evidenced when people overestimate the extent of their particular belief is correlated with the belief of others. Thus, fundamentalists do not necessarily believe that the majority of people share their views, but their estimates of the number of people who share their point of view will tend to exceed the actual number.


This bias is especially prevalent in group settings where one thinks the collective opinion of their own group matches that of the larger population. Since the members of a group reach a consensus and rarely encounter those who dispute it, they tend to believe that everybody thinks the same way.


Additionally, when confronted with evidence that a consensus does not exist, people often assume that those who do not agree with them are defective in some way.

 

[delldude]

How come you aren't double spacing now?

And using Dave's favorite source.....

 

[Ifly2]

Who is this dave fella'?

Why are you obsessed with him?

BTW, those groups of sentences are called "paragraphs". It is traditional to double space between them, not within them, unless requested, say by a teacher or editor.



There is a tendency for people to assume that their own opinions, beliefs, preferences, values and habits are 'normal' and that others also think the same way that they do.

Additionally, when confronted with evidence that a consensus does not exist, people often assume that those who do not agree with them are defective in some way.

 

[Ms Tree]

Are we talking Normal or right? I think that the concept of alllowing people to conduct their lives as they see fit (whether do to choice or genetics) so long as it does not affect others against their will is right. I do not know what is normal as I think that is far more subjective. I do not feel the KKK is normal but I believe allowing them the same rights as everyone else is right.

I am of the belief that those who do not believe that equal rights should apply to all are in some way defective for lack of a better term but I do not believe the should be denied the right to be defective.

 

[Ifly2]

Its called false consensus effect, or false bias effect

I didn't make it up

Or write the description

PHD's and the like do those things

I think the point, or part of it, is that people like to think that they themselves are normal, which leads to various cognitive biases.

One if these biases is that people tend to think that more people think the way they do, than actually do. Another is that individuals in a group tend to think that there is more of a consensus amongst the group than there actually is, which creates a hesitancy in the individual to speak up about how they really do feel. That can lead to a group appearing to accept, support or condone things that few in the group actually do accept, support or condone.

One other aspect seems to be that people tend to think that because they themselves are obviously "normal", anyone who disagrees with them must be defective, or at least wrong.

I only nicked a "teaser", a couple of the most pertinent points.

Just seemed apropos to mention on this forum.

Not that it will do,any good, but, ya' gotta' speak up.

 

[Ms Tree]

Well I definitely do not believe that many people feel as I do. If anything I think less people think the way I do than may be the reality. I think I do agree with you in the relationship of this issue to some one this forum.

 

[Kev3188]

Examples of groupthink, confirmation bias, tribal identity and more are all very evident all over this entire site.

 

[Hello3B]

Examples of groupthink, confirmation bias, tribal identity and more are all very evident all over this entire site.

What about Dog Wonder Think?

 

[delldude]

Pelosi was rather skilled at bringing her House around to group think.

 

[Ifly2]

That was politics

Whole 'nuther aminal

 

[Dog Wonder]

What about Dog Wonder Think?

Incomprehensible.

 

[southwind]

Why not just title this topic, "Obama-Bots" and get straight to the point, instead of beating around the bush?

 

[Ms Tree]

Why not just title this topic, "Obama-Bots" and get straight to the point, instead of beating around the bush?

Irony.

 

[delldude]

That was politics

Whole 'nuther aminal

Not at all....she says you will come to my consensus or be gone.....works pretty good.

 

[xUT]

That was politics

Whole 'nuther aminal

Politics can be a major effect on group think than is given credit for.
JMHO, many are effected/affected by group think and act accordingly.
Look at social media. Build a group of like minded people whom doesn't want a negative reaction among his/her/it 'anonymous' on line butties, peers and group think is invoked.
Just because a person may have the same opinion as a group on any given subject doesn't necessarily means that they are 'following the herd'.
Many here have displayed it, you as well.
JMHO,
B) xUT