Pluralistic Ignorance and the Perpetuation of Social Norms by Unwitting Actors

Prentice, Deborah A.; Miller, Dale T.

doi:10.1016/s0065-2601(08)60238-5

Cited by 314 publications

(247 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…This possibility is referred to as pluralistic ignorance-that is, belief that one's own behavior (in this case not having a handgun) is in the minority, when in fact one is in the majority. Pluralistic ignorance is exhibited among adolescents about other health behaviors, including smoking, 43 drinking and drug use, [44][45][46] and sexual activity. 47 Evidence of pluralistic ignorance can be used in interventions emphasizing social norms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescents and Firearms: A California Statewide Survey

Sorenson

Vittes

2004

Am J Public Health

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Objectives. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of adolescents’ reports regarding firearms in their homes, of their own, of close friends, and of same-aged peers. Methods. Random-digit-dialed interviews were conducted with 5801 adolescents as part of the California Health Interview Survey. Results. One fifth (19.6%) of California adolescents reported having a firearm in their homes; few (3.0%) reported having their own gun. Characteristics associated with having one’s own gun and with perceptions regarding others’ guns generally were consistent with characteristics associated with having a firearm in the home. The 2 exceptions were related to socioeconomic status and to ethnicity. Conclusions. The source from which adolescents obtain guns, especially adolescents from less wealthy households, merits further investigation. Further research is needed to ascertain the accuracy of Black and Latino adolescents’ perceptions regarding handguns among their peers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescents and Firearms: A California Statewide Survey

Sorenson

Vittes

2004

Am J Public Health

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“…T. Miller & McFarland, 1987, 1991O'Gorman, 1986;Prentice & Miller, 1996). A familiar example of the phenomenon is bystander nonintervention (Latané & Darley, 1970).…”

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confidence: 99%

Seeing approach motivation in the avoidance behavior of others: Implications for an understanding of pluralistic ignorance.

Miller

Nelson

2002

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

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Four studies tested the hypothesis that observers tend to interpret others' actions as approach motivated even when they recognize that their own identical choices were motivated by avoidance. Study 1 found that voters in the 2000 U.S. Presidential election who chose a candidate primarily because of their aversion to the alternative thought that others who voted for the same candidate liked him more than they themselves did. In Studies 2, 3, and 4 participants who learned that others made the same choice as themselves between 2 unappealing flavors of soda orjelly beans estimated that the others would pay more than they would for their common choice. The relevance of these findings for an understanding of pluralistic ignorance is discussed.

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“…This phenomenon is commonly referred to as pluralistic ignorance [77,78]. When most people in a group hold contrasting attitudes and norms, an intervention might achieve change by unveiling the misperception that keeps people bound to the harmful norm.…”

Section: Pitfall #1: Conflating Social Norms and Personal Attitudesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theory and Practice of Social Norms Interventions: Eight Common Pitfalls

Cislaghi¹,

Heise

2018

SSRN Journal

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Background: Recently, Global Health practitioners, scholars, and donors have expressed increased interest in "changing social norms" as a strategy to promote health and well-being in low and mid-income countries (LMIC). Despite this burgeoning interest, the ability of practitioners to use social norm theory to inform health interventions varies widely. Main body: Here, we identify eight pitfalls that practitioners must avoid as they plan to integrate a social norms perspective in their interventions, as well as eight learnings. These learnings are: 1) Social norms and attitudes are different; 2) Social norms and attitudes can coincide; 3) Protective norms can offer important resources for achieving effective social improvement in people's health-related practices; 4) Harmful practices are sustained by a matrix of factors that need to be understood in their interactions; 5) The prevalence of a norm is not necessarily a sign of its strength; 6) Social norms can exert both direct and indirect influence; 7) Publicising the prevalence of a harmful practice can make things worse; 8) People-led social norm change is both the right and the smart thing to do. Conclusions: As the understanding of how norms evolve in LMIC advances, practitioners will develop greater understanding of what works to help people lead change in harmful norms within their contexts. Awareness of these pitfalls has helped several of them increase the effectiveness of their interventions addressing social norms in the field. We are confident that others will benefit from these reflections as well.

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Pluralistic Ignorance and the Perpetuation of Social Norms by Unwitting Actors

Cited by 314 publications

References 47 publications

Adolescents and Firearms: A California Statewide Survey

Adolescents and Firearms: A California Statewide Survey

Seeing approach motivation in the avoidance behavior of others: Implications for an understanding of pluralistic ignorance.

Theory and Practice of Social Norms Interventions: Eight Common Pitfalls

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