Definitionv1DF-682
False consensus effect
the cognitive bias where individuals overestimate how many others share their choices, attitudes, and values, and perceive those who disagree as more extreme and revealing of character flaws, with the mechanism being anchoring on one's own values and insufficient adjustment
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely captures the semantic boundary of 'false consensus effect' by stating its genus (cognitive bias), differentia (overestimating shared choices/attitudes/values, perceiving disagreement as extreme character flaws), and the underlying mechanism (anchoring on own values with insufficient adjustment). It's specific enough to distinguish from related concepts like naive realism.