Many college students drink unhealthy amounts of alcohol,because they mistakenly assume that (a)everyone drinks alcohol and (b)everyone drinks more than they really do.This bias is known as
A)the fundamental attribution error.
B)pluralistic ignorance.
C)group attribution error.
D)normative drift.
E)the autokinetic effect.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pluralistic ignorance occurs when individuals in a group mistakenly believe that their attitudes or behaviors are different from those of the others in the group. In the case of college drinking, students may assume that everyone drinks excessively because they perceive that as the norm, even if in reality many students consume smaller amounts of alcohol. This reinforces the belief that heavy drinking is appropriate, creating a vicious circle of behavior that is difficult to break.

Many College Students Drink Unhealthy Amounts of Alcohol,because They Mistakenly