Bias Quote by Thomas Gilovich
““The false consensus effect refers to the tendency for people’s own beliefs, values, and habits to bias their estimates of how widely such views and habits are shared by others.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Social Judgment: How Social Psychology Shapes Our Everyday Decisions, 1991
People overestimate how much others share their own beliefs and habits, leading to a false sense of consensus.
In simple terms: We think others think like us more than they actually do.
Key Takeaway
Check assumptions about others' views.
Themes
cognition
bias
social perception
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
psychological
insightful
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- marketing research
- policy making
- online discussions
Key Concepts
false consensus
self‑projection
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you assume your preferences are common?
- How does this bias affect group decisions?
A Different Perspective
People may still be correct in some contexts; consensus can be useful.
