Newman notices that the passenger seated across from him on the subway has his eyes closed and hasn't moved in a while. But he looks around and sees that no one else, including those passengers who were on the train when he boarded, seems too concerned about this man. He decides that this probably means there isn't an emergency and the man is not in need of help. This line of thinking epitomizes which of the following concepts?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pluralistic ignorance occurs when individuals in a group assume that others don't perceive a situation as an emergency or don't feel the need to act. This can lead to a lack of action and diffusion of responsibility. In this scenario, Newman assumes that because others on the train are not reacting to the motionless passenger, it must not be an emergency. This is an example of pluralistic ignorance.

Newman Notices That the Passenger Seated Across from Him on the Subway