What term is used when a group holds a consensus that the majority does not actually support?

The term "False Consensus" refers to a situation where a group believes that their views, attitudes, or behaviors are widely shared among the larger population, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. This phenomenon can lead to a misleading perception of agreement or support within a group, as individuals may assume that their beliefs are more common than they actually are.

In public relations and communication contexts, recognizing false consensus is vital because it can significantly influence decision making, campaign strategies, and audience engagement. If PR professionals misjudge the level of support for an initiative or message based on the false belief that their opinions represent the majority, they might fail to address the actual concerns or needs of the broader public.

The other concepts, while related to group dynamics and perception, do not accurately describe the situation of mistaken belief in widespread agreement. Pluralistic ignorance, for instance, involves a scenario where individuals in a group privately reject a norm but mistakenly assume that others accept it, which can also lead to misguided behaviors but is distinct from false consensus.