Pluralistic ignorance concerning alcohol usage among recent high school graduates

Author

Jill S. Braddock, University of Evansville
Tonia R. Wolf, University of Evansville

Periodical Title

Modern Psychological Studies

Volume

3

Number

1

Page Numbers

pages 34-37

Department

Dept. of Psychology

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Date

1995

Abstract

Recent high school graduates in a midwestern community estimated their classmates' attitudes toward alcohol use in contrast to their own positions. Attitudes were assessed on three levels: subjective comfort with others' drinking, approval of peer drinking and actual drinking practices. Pluralistic ignorance was found to be a significant factor at all three levels, p < .0005. Respondents reported that they were less comfortable, less approving, and drank less than close friends, lesser still than friends, and far less than peers. These findings provide support for "normative education" prevention programs that attempt to correct erroneous perceptions about alcohol use and abuse.

Subject

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Document Type

article

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

4 leaves

Language

English

Call Number

BF1 .M63 v. 3 no. 1 1995

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Recommended Citation

Braddock, Jill S. and Wolf, Tonia R. (1995) "Pluralistic ignorance concerning alcohol usage among recent high school graduates," Modern Psychological Studies: Vol. 3: No. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholar.utc.edu/mps/vol3/iss1/5