Dewanto hears what sounds like gunshots coming from the school parking lot. None of his classmates appears concerned, so Dewanto assumes that they know the sound was only a car backfiring or someone playing with firecrackers. Dewanto's beliefs illustrate

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Dewanto's assumption that his classmates are not concerned because they know something he doesn't (e.g., the sound was not a gunshot) is an example of pluralistic ignorance. This is a psychological phenomenon where individuals wrongly believe that their own thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are different from those of the group, often because no one in the group expresses their concerns or doubts.

Dewanto Hears What Sounds Like Gunshots Coming from the School