Effects of Forced Exposure to a Hypothetical Population on False Consensus

Abstract

Participants were forced to view a hypothetical population of 30 bogus students. Later, participants estimated consensus for 10 traits in this predefined population. On the false consensus effect (FCE) measure (estimates from those who exemplify the trait contrasted with estimates from those who do not), false consensus was observed. On the accuracy measure (estimates compared with actual consensus), estimates regressed inward. A week delay between the forced viewing and consensus estimates enhanced the regression effect but did not affect the FCE measure. The fact that false consensus obtained under forced viewing demonstrates for the first time that social projection can occur in the absence of selective exposure. The fact that the two measures diverged argues against their equivalence as false consensus measures.