Dysphoria and consensus estimates for behavioral choices: Equally inaccurate but in opposite directions

This study investigates (a) whether dysphoric and nondysphoric participants differ in their perceptions of social consensus for their behavioral choices and (b) whether one group's perceptions are more accurate than the other's. The findings show that though the two groups were equally inclined to make self-referential judgments, they were made in different directions. Dysphoric participants underestimated consensus for their choices, whereas nondysphoric participants overestimated consensus. The two groups were equally inaccurate. These findings are discussed in light of the controversy concerning the relative realism of dysphoric and nondysphoric persons.