Presumed Behavior: Modification of the Ideal‐Real Dichotomy

Anthropologists have long been aware of the difference between the ideal pattern in society (what people think should or should not be done) and real behavior (what actually is done). This article calls attention to the importance of a third element, presumed behavior, or what people think is being done in the society. Since people tend to act on the basis of what they think others are doing (which may not coincide at all with what people are actually doing, or with the ideal pattern) knowledge of the presumed behavior is highly significant in understanding and predicting social behavior.