Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture, ethnicity, or group is superior to others. It often involves judging other cultures based on the values and standards of one’s own culture, which can lead to misunderstandings, stereotypes, and discrimination. Ethnocentrism can be both conscious and unconscious, influencing the way people perceive different traditions, customs, and social behaviors.
While it can create a sense of unity within a group, extreme ethnocentrism can foster prejudice, cultural insensitivity, and even conflict. In contrast, cultural relativism is the opposite approach, encouraging people to understand and evaluate cultures based on their own values and context rather than comparing them to their own.