Glossary / Lexicon

False consensus effect refers to man's incorrect belief that others agree with him.

It is the tendency to overestimate the degree to which one's opinions and beliefs are shared by others. We generally overestimate the number of other people that agree with our attitudes.

Other definition:
False consensus effect refers to the tendency to overestimate the commonality of one's opinions and one's undesirable or unsuccessful behaviors. Basically, it occurs when a group of like minded individuals isolate themselves such that they reinforce the false perceptions they each hold.

In the model, they tend to operate in a vacuum whereby outside views and opinions rarely penetrate the dialogue in order to broaden the view and the conclusions of the group.

Other definition:

False consensus effect refers to the tendency to overestimate the commonality of one's opinions and one's undesirable or unsuccessful behaviors. Basically, it occurs when a group of like minded individuals isolate themselves such that they reinforce the false perceptions they each hold. In the model, they tend to operate in a vacuum whereby outside views and opinions rarely penetrate the dialogue in order to broaden the view and the conclusions of the group.