False-Consensus Effect

We systematically overestimate how many other people share our beliefs, values, preferences, and behaviors — assuming our views are the majority view.

• Heavy drinkers assume most people drink as much as they do.
• Political partisans consistently believe their position is the majority view — even when polling data shows the opposite.
• A person who finds a joke offensive assumes most people find it offensive; a person who finds it funny assumes most people find it funny.