Pluralistic Ignorance: The Smoke-Filled RoomTrusting the crowd's silence over your own eyes

From the show

Psychology of Moral Failure

Individual judgment often fails when faced with the collective silence of a crowd during a crisis. People privately reject a norm but incorrectly assume others accept it, leading to dangerous passivity. The classic experiment reveals how social cues can override survival instincts, causing individuals to ignore immediate threats just because those around them appear unconcerned.