Alike Quote by Margie Warrell
““Your “everybody” probably represents even a smaller proportion of the population than your Rolodex. Psychologists have documented that our typical everybody— to which they refer as the “generalized other”—is usually a collection of about five or six people.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Confidence Code, Katty Kay & Claire Shipman, 2014
People often assume a broad audience, but our mental model of “everyone” is actually based on a few close contacts, limiting perspective.
In simple terms: Our mental “everyone” is just a handful of people.
Key Takeaway
Broaden your reference group to avoid bias.
Themes
perception
social psychology
bias
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
advice
insightful
When to use this quote
- marketing
- public speaking
- product design
- policy making
- education
Key Concepts
generalized other
social cognition
reference group
Questions to Reflect On
- Who do you actually consider when you think of “everyone”?
- How might expanding that group change your decisions?
A Different Perspective
Relying on a narrow group can miss diverse needs.
