When engaged in debate over especially contentious issues such as racism, religious bias, or marriage equality, people who have polar opposite views often believe that their own views of those the majority. This illustrates the ____ effect.
A) external attribution
B) illusory correlation
C) false uniqueness
D) false consensus

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The false consensus effect refers to the tendency for people to overestimate the extent to which others share their beliefs or opinions. In the context of the given scenario, people holding polar opposite views tend to believe that their own views are shared by the majority, and thus, exhibit the false consensus effect.

When Engaged in Debate Over Especially Contentious Issues Such as Racism