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Misperceptions About Others

Author

Listed:
  • David Y. Yang

    (Department of Economics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA)

  • Leonardo Bursztyn

    (Department of Economics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA)

Abstract

Perceptions about others play an important role in shaping people's attitudes and behaviors, as well as social norms more broadly. This review presents a meta-analysis of the recent empirical literature that examines perceptions about others in the field, covering over a million observations for a total of 434 elicited perceptions. We document a number of stylized facts. Misperceptions about others are widespread, asymmetric, much larger when about out-group members, and positively associated with one's own attitudes. Experimental treatments to recalibrate misperceptions generally work as intended; they sometimes lead to meaningful changes in behaviors, though this often occurs only immediately after the treatments. We discuss different conceptual frameworks that could explain the origin, persistence, and rigidity of misperceptions about others. We point to several directions for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • David Y. Yang & Leonardo Bursztyn, 2022. "Misperceptions About Others," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 14(1), pages 425-452, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:anr:reveco:v:14:y:2022:p:425-452
    DOI: 10.1146/annurev-economics-051520-023322
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bing Han & David Hirshleifer & Johan Walden, 2023. "Visibility Bias in the Transmission of Consumption Beliefs and Undersaving," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 78(3), pages 1647-1704, June.
    2. Alexander W. Cappelen & Benjamin Enke & Bertil Tungodden, 2022. "Moral Universalism: Global Evidence," CESifo Working Paper Series 10110, CESifo.
    3. Bursztyn, Leonardo & Cappelen, Alexander & Tungodden, Bertil & Voena, Alessandra & Yanagizawa-Drott, David, 2023. "How Are Gender Norms Perceived?," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 5/2023, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    4. Reynaud, Arnaud & Ouvrard, Benjamin, 2024. "Re-calibrating beliefs about peers: Direct impacts and cross-learning effects in agriculture," TSE Working Papers 24-1517, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    5. Grossmann, Max & Hackethal, Andreas & Laudi, Marten & Pauls, Thomas, 2023. "Conform to the norm. Peer information and sustainable investments," SAFE Working Paper Series 412, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    6. Henning Hermes & Philipp Lergetporer & Fabian Mierisch & Guido Schwerdt & Simon Wiederhold, 2024. "Does Information about Inequality and Discrimination in Early Child Care Affect Policy Preferences?," CESifo Working Paper Series 10925, CESifo.
    7. Yu, Hang, 2023. "Social stigma as a barrier to HIV testing: Evidence from a randomized experiment in Mozambique," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    8. Andrea Tesei & Filipe Campante & Ruben Durante, 2022. "Media and Social Capital," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 14(1), pages 69-91, August.
    9. Becker, Malte & Krüger, Finja & Heidland, Tobias, 2024. "What Drives Attitudes toward Immigrants in Sub-Saharan Africa? Evidence from Uganda and Senegal," IZA Discussion Papers 16734, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Ximeng Fang & Sven Heuser & Lasse S. Stötzer, 2023. "How In-Person Conversations Shape Political Polarization: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from a Nationwide Initiative," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 270, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    11. Sebastian Blesse & Philipp Lergetporer & Justus Nover & Katharina Werner, 2023. "Transparency and Policy Competition: Experimental Evidence from German Citizens and Politicians," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 387, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    12. Hermes, Henning & Lergetporer, Philipp & Mierisch, Fabian & Schwerdt, Guido & Wiederhold, Simon, 2024. "Does information about inequality and discrimination in early child care affect policy preferences?," IWH Discussion Papers 2/2024, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    13. Nils D. Steiner & Claudia Landwehr & Philipp Harms, 2024. "False Consensus Beliefs and Populist Attitudes," Working Papers 2403, Gutenberg School of Management and Economics, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
    14. Rusch, Hannes, 2023. "The logic of human intergroup conflict:," Research Memorandum 014, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    15. Lawson, Nicholas, 2023. "What citation tests really tell us about bias in academic publishing," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    beliefs; misperceptions; meta-analysis; information treatment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C8 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs
    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • D7 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making
    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • D9 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics

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