Editing False consensus effect (section)

=== Normative Social Influence ===
The False Consensus Effect can be partially attributed to the innate desire to conform and be liked by others in a [[social environment]] by sharing characteristics with members of a social group, within the parameters determined by the social environment; these parameters can be influenced by demographic factors, such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status, and cultural differences. The innate motivation to be liked is known as normative social influence,<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Toronto Libraries |url=https://login.library.utoronto.ca/index.php?url=https://books.scholarsportal.info/uri/ebooks/ebooks4/taylorandfrancis4/2018-06-06/7/9781315290607 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=library.utoronto.ca |language=en}}</ref> conceptualized by revolutionary social psychologist Solomon Asch in 1951. Normative social influence is a social and evolutionary function to share characteristics with a group, form a group identity, and benefit from the protection and resources of group membership. It can cause the False Consensus Effect by creating a social illusion - the need to be liked causes one to agree with others outwardly even if they disagree internally, creating a social illusion of collective agreement. Additionally, the False Consensus Effect is fundamentally a perceptual effect; normative social influence motivates individuals to agree with each other, potentially leading some to believe that everyone getting along socially means that everyone agrees. Normative social influence also leads to people feeling validated in their beliefs when they are not challenged, reinforcing the illusion of correctness and group cohesion.