Peer Pressure and Pluralistic Ignorance: The Case of Underage Drinking
Why is pluralistic ignorance a problematic issue in peer pressure situations?
What dilemma did Katie face at her first college party regarding drinking?
Answer:
In regards to the case of Katie, an underage teenager who goes to a college party for the first time and faces the issue of whether accepting the rules that she cannot drink because she is too young, or do so because others like her are doing it, is that peer pressure and the constant desire to fit in and not stand out among her peers will probably push Katie to erase the limits and step out of the limitations, probably leading her to drink.
The concept of pluralistic ignorance comes into play here because Katie, like many others in similar situations, may incorrectly perceive the attitudes or behaviors of her peers. In this case, she sees everyone holding beers and may assume that drinking is the norm or expected behavior, even when it goes against her better judgment.
This is a big issue not so much because of the rules that Katie would be breaking, but rather because Katie is relinquishing her boundaries and principles in order to adapt to her new environment. In her desire to fit in with her peers, she may believe that her actions will be justified because everyone else is doing it.
Katie will likely drink because others are doing so, and there will be no reason for her to hold back. This can be problematic as it may lead to a disregard for personal values and decisions based on peer influence rather than individual beliefs.