Pluralistic ignorance: first-hand information misinterpreted As human beings, we have a strong desire to be accepted by others. We behave based on what we assume those around us are doing. We misinterpret the first-hand information we obtain from observing the behavior of others. People's behavior sometimes stems from a desire to create an impression that does not accurately reflect one's own beliefs, which can lead to errors in judgment. When a majority of members of a group privately reject a norm but assume that most others accept it, they are engaging in pluralistic ignorance. (Gilovich, Keltner, Chen & Nisbett, 2013, p. 112) Pluralistic ignorance occurs when people act in ways that conflict with their private beliefs due to concern for social consequences. Another type of pluralistic ignorance highlights the interactions between different ethnicities. groups. Research by Nicole Shelton and Jennifer Richeson (2005) predicted that due to pluralistic ignorance, out-group members avoid intergroup interactions. The study shows that out-group members have interpersonal conflicts regarding rejection from other group members, which deters intergroup interactions. This study highlights possible causes why interracial contact may be low because ethnic groups misinterpret the feelings of outgroup members (Shelton & Richeson, 2005). It is important to understand why and how social groups implement attribution biases toward other social groups. This understanding will deepen our knowledge of how human beings choose not to interact with other groups out of fear that the other group will reject them. We will study how people engage in pluralistic ignorance. In Experiment 1, a middle of paper ...... embers may differ in how well they may or may not adhere to the group consensus when interacting with other ethnic groups. This study will contribute to shedding light on the understanding of group conflicts and social interactions in our societies today. The results of these experiments may reveal how we adhere to an illusory group consensus without truly knowing the real group consensus. These findings may indicate that as a society we need to interact and communicate with those around us to be able to adequately work together within our communities.ReferencesGilovich, T., Keltner, D., Chen, S., Nisbett , RE (2013). Social psychology. New York, NY: WW Norton & Company, Inc. Shelton, J.N., & Richeson, J.A. (2005). Intergroup contact and pluralistic ignorance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88(1), 91-107. do I:10.1037/0022-3514.88.1.91