Peoples Opinions

mconigol

I've always wondered this when debating a point in threads here on boards and somebody claims that everyone they know has the same view as them so therefore I must be wrong? Kind of like an implied peer pressure I suppose.

Is there a name for the situation where somebody within a limited group of people which share a similar viewpoint/outlook assume people outside that group also share the same opinions?

i.e they don't realise that they more than likely choose to associate with people who are similar to them and therefore conclude that "everyone" thinks the same. They are not aware that they simply reinforce their own thought processes by hanging around with people who are like them.

Sorry if I've made this question a bit convoluted!! Just wondering if there is a name for it!

psycjay

Not aware of a specific term but it does remind me of group think. In this situation there is usually a dominant member of a group and lots of "yes" people. I think that one of the US presidents (maybe JFK) described it as a problem, because in groups meetings everyone agreed with him rather than challenging ideas.

I think what you are describing is simply a common flaw in reasoning that a lot of people have. This is why so many beliefs persist despite contrary evidence.

mconigol

Yeah sounds similar allright. If Hollywood has taught us anything it's definitely that group think it a problem! Lucking there's always some headstrong, renegade scientist nearby to convince the president get things sorted....day after tomorrow, independence day etc...!

On my OP though I just think it's interesting that people don't realise that they probably reinforce their own viewpoints unconsciously by choosing people who are similar to themselves to hang around with etc...

Always think it's funny when somebody uses the "everyone I know thinks such and such" argument to emphasise how right they are! e.g. there is a god, everyone at mass agrees!

Tyrant^

Social conformity ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformity

Good documentary also covers conformity cant remember which part
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/discovering-psychology/

Kooli

Argumentum ad populum or argument by consensus is the mistaken/illogical argument that just because a lot of people believe or agree on something, it must be true.

Which is partly what you're referring to. But you are also talking about the added piece where people don't realise that the people they get their 'data' from are likely to be a biased sample.

I always think of that when I'm on those threads where certain men insist that ALL men cheat on their partners, and everyone who doesn't 'realise' this, is just naive.