Pluralistic Ignorance in Students’ Perception of Inclusive Classroom Norms: The Role of Gender-Specific Reference Groups

Carmen Barth, Jeanine Grütter, Department of Empirical Educational Research, University of Konstanz, Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, University of Teacher Education Zug

The Journal of Early Adolescence

Published online on November 25, 2025

Abstract

The Journal of Early Adolescence, Ahead of Print.
Classroom norms are important in shaping individual students’ prosocial behavior. Research documents that students often misperceive classroom norms by underestimating their classmates’ prosocial intentions – a phenomenon known as pluralistic ignorance. ...