Glossary
Third-person Effect
What is the third-person effect?
The third-person effect is the tendency to judge a media message as having more influence on other people than on oneself.
Example
A viewer may expect a political advertisement to persuade other voters while leaving their own views unchanged. “That will work on them” is different from knowing what the message actually did.
Perceived and actual influence
Davison's original paper distinguishes perceived influence from actual impact. It also proposes that beliefs about effects on others can prompt action, such as an attempt to counter a message.
A difference between self and other ratings does not reveal which estimate is wrong.
Why it matters
When judging a message, separate what you think it will do from evidence about its effects.