Pluralistic Ignorance did not Prevent Paternity Leave in Japan in December 2021: A Replication Study

In recent times, the circumstances surrounding childcare leave in Japan have undergone substantial change. The present study aimed to replicate the study by Miyajima and Yamaguchi (2017), who demonstrated that pluralistic ignorance inhibits paternity leave. Our preregistered replication survey, which comprised 222 employed males, found that participants recognized others' attitudes toward paternity leave as more negative than they actually were. This result indicates that, as in the previous study, pluralistic ignorance about paternity leave still exists. However, unlike Miyajima and Yamaguchi's (2017) work, pluralistic ignorance did not inhibit participants' willingness to take paternity leave. The potential causes of these differences are discussed.