What does false consensus bias refer to?

False consensus bias refers to the tendency of individuals to believe that their own opinions, beliefs, or behaviors are more common and widely shared than they actually are. This cognitive bias leads people to overestimate how much others agree with them.

The reasoning behind why this answer is correct stems from psychological research, which shows that people often assume that their preferences and thoughts reflect those of the larger group, assuming a sort of universal agreement. This can result in misjudgments about social norms and creates difficulties in understanding differing perspectives.

The other options do not encapsulate the essence of false consensus bias effectively. For instance, the tendency to overestimate the diversity of opinions, which suggests that one may incorrectly perceive a wide range of beliefs among people, actually contrasts with the idea of false consensus bias. Moreover, overconfidence in one’s decisions relates more to an individual’s confidence level rather than beliefs about others' shared views. Lastly, assuming that advice from friends is universal speaks more to personal relationships and subjective interpretations rather than reflecting a widespread consensus, which is the crux of false consensus bias.