We tend to gravitate towards things that reflect our values, positively embrace information related to them, and develop relationships only with those who align with our thoughts. Furthermore, we often assume that many others think like us. But is this true?

While it may hold some truth, what's evident is that we tend to overestimate the extent to which our thoughts align with those of others. In psychology, this is referred to as the 'false consensus effect'. For one example, in my own experience, during high school, I held a negative perception of a specific university entrance admission examination system, and I frequently discussed it with friends who were preparing for the same system as me. People around me seemed to share my perspective, leading me to believe that my opinion was socially dominant. However, upon entering university and engaging in conversations with individuals who had entered through various admission examination systems, I looked at the situation from a more objective standpoint, no longer as a high school student who is the subject of the university entrance examinee. This made me realize that I used to hold a rather narrow-minded viewpoint. Therefore, it's important to remember that just because we hold a particular belief, not everyone thinks the same way.
Furthermore, when it comes to judging others, it's also important to be cautious about looking at them through the lens of one's own standards and traits. To have a broader perspective on the world, it is essential to be open to different thoughts than your own. As a university student now, compared to my high school days, I could have developed a perspective that looks beyond self-centered thinking. This change occurred not so much through the acquisition of knowledge but by gradually encountering a diverse range of people. Through those relationships, I was exposed to various thoughts and perspectives different from mine. Therefore, I believe it's necessary to be aware of the false consensus effect and intentionally spend time with people who have different thoughts and perspectives from me. This also applies to people you have known for a long time. In close and meaningful relationships, getting to know each other's differences through ample conversations is the beginning of a healthy relationship. Especially in the current societal transformation towards a more individual-centric society. After the impact of events like COVID-19, we seem to be losing many opportunities to interact with others. As a result, contemporary individuals are more likely to hold biases and fears about things different from themselves, which can ultimately lead to division in relationships based on class, race, gender, and, with people in our immediate surroundings.

Therefore, recognizing and being vigilant against such narrow-minded thinking will open up opportunities for you to have a more comprehensive and open-minded mindset than before. After all, isn't diversity one of life's pleasures? So, try to always keep this phenomenon in mind, and be careful not to fall into its trap!