PUB MINI CASE: Sean and His Friends, Most of Whom

PUB MINI CASE: Sean and his friends, most of whom are Irish immigrants or have Irish parents, enjoy drinking at The Celtic Knot, a small New York pub that serves many Irish beers, is decorated with genuine Irish paraphernalia, and holds weekly traditional Irish music sessions. Like many of his friends, Sean enjoys the feeling the pub gives him of connection with his Irish heritage. The pub advertises at community centers and churches in predominantly Irish areas of the city. On its posters, underneath a photo of a group of attractive young people in a cozy corner of the pub drinking and laughing together, is the pub's slogan: "Because being Irish is about more than just St. Paddy's Day."
-In the PUB MINI CASE, Sean feels comfortable perceiving The Celtic Knot as a genuine Irish pub because many of his friends believe the same thing. He is using ________ to affirm his attitude.

A) distinctiveness
B) consistency over modality
C) consistency over time
D) the central route to persuasion
E) consensus