Most people privately reject a norm but assume others accept it.
Prentice and Miller's college drinking studies: most students privately felt uncomfortable with campus drinking norms and believed most others were comfortable. Everyone was wrong about everyone.
In practice
- A congregation each of whom finds the new hymn book awkward sings from it for six years, because nobody has heard anyone complain.
- A team where nobody wants the 8am stand-up keeps it for two years, each person believing the others value it.
- Further reading
- Wikipedia
- Subject
- Sociology & Culture
- Essay
- How societies hold together, sort people, and change