essay on ethnocentrism

Effects of Ethnocentrism Essay

Need to write an ethnocentrism essay? This paper focuses on the positive and negative effects of ethnocentrism on individuals and cultures. Use this analysis to define and explain the issue in your own assignment!

Introduction

• Impact on Individuals
• Impact on Societies
• Impact on Multinational Corporations

The terminology ethnocentrism refers to the tendency of people believing that their race, cultural or ethnic groups are better than all the others. Such individuals measure and judge all the other cultural or ethnic groups in relation to theirs.

These judgments are made in relation to aspects like religion, race, behavior, custom and language. The cultural identity of any ethnic group is uniquely identified by the above mentioned aspects. This attitude makes an individual to view other groups as being inferior in comparison to his or her own. (Wood, 2009, p. 163-173)

Effects of Ethnocentrism on Individuals

Ethnocentrism is a bad practice because it leads individuals to make false assumptions about other cultures. Ethnocentrism leads people to making generalizations about the customs and cultures of other people that are not true. This leads to false judgment of others using their own ethnic belonging as the yardstick. At the end of it all, individuals may make harmful judgments concerning other communities.

Ethnocentrism makes people to be rigid to change. Individuals who are ethnocentrism hold to their own culture and they can’t appreciate change that is being brought by modernization. Such individuals may end up remaining illiterate by rigidly holding to their own cultures and not ready to empress change.

Ethnocentrism hinders individuals from learning about other cultures. People who are ethnocentric normally don’t take time to learn about other cultures that exist around the world. This leads them to continuing to make judgments that are uninformed about other ethnic groups.

Ethnocentrism hinders individuals from communicating to individuals of other cultures. This is because such people view others as a lesser people or harmful for example a belief that a certain community is made of witches (Capucao, 2010, p. 219-228). This leads to communication break down within the society.

Effects of Ethnocentrism on Societies

There are so many ways that ethnocentrism may affect societies. Ethnocentrism closes the minds of individuals from understanding the way of life and cultures of other people. This may affect social interactions among people of different cultures living in the same geographical area. This may end up affecting the functioning of the social group by making it unstable. The society may exist in fear because the individuals don’t trust one another.

Ethnocentrism may lead to situations that are terrible like deaths and wars in a given country. When communities view others from a negative perspective, it may lead to animosity that may cause ethnic or tribal clashes that may end up leading to several injury and death cases within the society.

The way societies look at history and understand it can also be affected by ethnocentrism. The society may believe that those who lived before them were a foolish generation. This is a false judgment that doesn’t put the time gap factor in consideration.

Ethnocentrism may be good for the society especially if practiced in form of patriotism. A person being proud of their own country is very good for the society. This is because the occupants may be ready to fight for their country under all cost. Being proud of ones culture may even be an attraction to tourist hence income generating.

Effects of Ethnocentrism on Multinational Corporations

Multinational corporations are international corporations that deliver their services in several countries. They are foreign hence owned by people of different cultures while serving and employing locals of different cultures.

Ethnocentrism affects multinational corporations on the way they make their strategies of operating in specific areas. They have to decide who to employ, and how to design their products in a given area. Each area may end up having its own strategy due to ethnocentrism.

International business communication can be effected by dialects and ascents. Business may be affected negatively because of a negative perception of a certain race, dialect or ascents. This may cause harmful effects if not handled with care.

The attitude of ethnocentrism has both positive and negative effects to individuals, society, and multinational companies. While ethnocentrism is good for patriotism, it is important that all individuals and societies appreciate the culture of one another. Such an appreciation leads to peaceful coexistence of individuals and societies with varied backgrounds. This promotes unity in diversity among society members. As a conclusion, there is no culture that is superior to the other worldwide.

Capucao, D. D. (2010). Religion and ethnocentrism-an empirical theological study. Netherlands: Koninklijke Brill NV.

Wood, J. T. (2009). Communication in our lives . Boston: Cengage Learning press.

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Ethnocentrism Essay

• Author Kimberly Ball
• Category General Essays

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Introduction

Ethnocentrism is the judging of another culture according to the qualities and benchmarks of this culture’s lifestyle. Ethnocentric individuals judge various social events regarding their specific ethnic alliance or culture, especially with stress for vernacular, lead, conventions, and religion. These racial capabilities and subdivisions serve to describe each ethnicity’s exceptional social identity. Dissecting and evaluating different phases of ethnocentrism is basic in keeping up and making a robust and productive environment. Creating systems to attract and help an individual is critical to a leader’s accomplishment in this multicultural age. Therefore the theme of this article will look to illustrate and explain the ethnocentric stages of denial and minimization of cultural differences and outline strategies that a leader in this multicultural age can use to transform the individual into a more culturally competent individual or group.

Denial is a naive ethnocentric stage in which there is foreswearing that social contrasts even exist. A man in the Denial Stage has a couple of classifications to see differences. People at this stage are not debilitated by social disparities since they decline to acknowledge them. They are ethnocentric through and through in that they accept there is a right sort of living (theirs), and that the individuals who act contrastingly mainly don’t have the foggiest idea about any better. Likewise, a man in this stage may credit subhuman characteristics to those from various societies and respect them with extraordinary partiality. In this stage, individuals incline to force their esteem framework upon others, trusting that they are “correct” and that other people who are diverse are “befuddled.” In general, the individuals who encounter social disavowal have not had extensive contact with individuals not the same as themselves, and along these lines have no experiential reason for having confidence in different societies. A vital pointer of the foreswearing stage is the conviction that your knowledge is superior to local people.

Minimization

This stages includes acknowledgment of social contrasts BUT minimizing their significance in our lives. Individuals in the Minimization Stage trust that social distinctions are merely shallow; the fundamental characteristics of being human will get the job done. Social contrasts debilitate them, and they endeavor to limit them by revealing to themselves that individuals are more comparable than divergent. Never again do they see those from varying social orders as being confused, inferior, or terrible. Despite everything, they have not made social care and are unyielding about living together in harmony with everybody. Western estimations of distinction, transparency, and trustworthiness add to this view. Once in a while, people with abroad experience discover an asylum in this stage – it empowers them to keep up a vital separation from sentiments of inadequacy notwithstanding numerous social questions. Since they accept that all societies are inherently comparative, people in this stage disregard the tailoring of their approach to successfully manage a social setting. Moving into the following phase of acceptance speaks to “a noteworthy theoretical move,” from an ethnocentric position that depends on straightforward standards (i.e., either/or) to an ethnorelative stage where answers are not all that unmistakable.

For a leader to make and keep up a thriving environment that is strong and functional, one needs to create systems and schemes to neutralize the difficulties or different phases of ethnocentrism. These procedures that will change a person into an all the more socially skilled individual and empower them to incorporate into a workplace flawlessly will be imperative for a leader’s achievement in this multicultural age.Bearing in mind that the employment of different strategies depends on the ethnocentric stage at which an individual is, a leader should be careful to understand the needs of specific individuals and correctly meet them.

For a person at the Denial Ethnocentric stage, the utilization of non-threatening social mindfulness exercises such as ethnic luncheons, entertainment by social groups, travelogues, chats on history, exhibits is suitable. The approach is commonly known as “Objective Culture Approach” which centers around the social manifestations of diverse persons. The reason for existing is to enable individuals to start to perceive contrasts. It, as a rule, constructs nature with “legends and occasions,” may include “ethnic” sustenance in the eatery or restaurant, and frequently has a devoted month featuring the commitments of subordinate gatherings. Craftsmanship shows, ensembles, shows, teachers, and pamphlet articles all join to expand the profile of different ethnic groups. By and large, this type of varying variety work is available to all, albeit regularly it isn’t obligatory. The perception of strife it that it is solvable through inclusivity.

There is a compulsion to be pretentious of such endeavors as not having any essential esteem. Be that as it may, this sort of action has its place. For those in the Ethnocentric Denial stage, where the social distinction is “out of the picture, therefore irrelevant” and administered by the decree “don’t ask, don’t tell,” such endeavors can bring society into cognizance. However, because commonality with social manifestations does not in itself improve intercultural capability, the reasonable restrictions of this style of advancement are apparent: the endeavor is decent, yet not adequate. The protection from this sort of exertion is more or less moderate, as it hardly challenges perspective or personality. Be that as it may, protection may happen from nondominant assemble individuals, who secretly lambast such endeavors as short of what expectations. However, if dealt with consciously, the Objective culture approach exercises can add to expanded consciousness of other ethnic gatherings and the part they have played to the organization and society as a whole.

According to Deane (p.1), for those in the minimization stage of Ethnocentrism, taking care of this move appears to be ideal. Utilize recreation works out, individual stories, “agents” from different societies carefully selected to demonstrate how to decipher conduct unexpectedly. Recognize the distress individuals may feel amid this move for it is ordinary. The concentration of this stage features the significance of decent variety, builds members’ recognition with what assorted variety incorporates, proposes a couple of issues that may influence the work environment, and exhibits a business case to back up the activity. All employees are subject to this approach, and any contravening is portrays a picture of one who is not on board with the workings of an organization.

The approach is agreeable and fascinating to those people who are in the minimization phase. It invokes the feeling of “small world” theory and more often than not acknowledges the variety cause, given the activity isn’t excessively requesting of progress inside the association. More prominent requests may drive those at minimization to relapse to the Ethnocentric stage of Defense, influencing them to ponder about “exceptional right” and “out of line inclination” against the majority. Be that as it may, for those as of now in protection, even this approach may push them past their status. Obviously, this does not mean wiping out the program; instead, it proposes we should be set up for the protection. Individuals from nondominant bunches see this sort of work as precisely what is not required yet are frequently ready to see it at an initial step especially for those in the later phases of ethnic personality advancement.

In conclusion, there are different stages in the ethnocentrism some of which include Denial and Minimization. They are challenges experienced in different societies at different levels. For a leader in this to enjoy success in this multicultural age he/she needs to have a pragmatical look at these challenges and come up with strategies such as have been pointed out above. The solutions offered will is foster unity in an organization amongst the peers, ensure that there is a favorable working environment and contribute to the success of a leader heading the organization. Above all, it creates a situation where there is no racial discrimination or prejudice based on one’s ethnic affiliation.

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Ethnocentrism In Psychology: Examples, Disadvantages, & Cultural Relativism

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Saul Mcleod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul Mcleod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

On This Page:

Ethnocentrism in psychology refers to the tendency to view one’s own cultural or ethnic group as superior and to judge other groups based on the values and standards of one’s group. It is the belief that one’s own culture is correct and superior compared to other cultures.

In essence, ethnocentrism leads individuals to use their own ethnic group and its standards to interpret and evaluate other groups, often in a negative manner.

Those who are ethnocentric assume their cultural norms are the ideal that other cultures should be measured against or aspire to.

For example, someone who is ethnocentric might believe their traditional cuisine or clothing is the proper way, and that other cultural practices are inferior or strange in comparison.

Or they may think their language should be the default spoken, rather than needing to accommodate other languages.

Ethnocentrism occurs when one believes that their own cultural group is superior to others.

Explanation

Individuals who are ethnocentric will believe that their culture’s beliefs, ideas, values, and practices are correct, and they use the standards in their own culture to assess other cultural groups.

They will tend to have negative attitudes toward other cultures and believe their beliefs, ideas, values, and practices are wrong or strange.

A popular example of ethnocentrism is to think of the utensils different cultures prefer to use. Some cultures prefer to use forks, spoons, and knives to eat and may believe that it is weird or incorrect that some cultures traditionally use chopsticks to eat.

Ethnocentrism can occur for anyone across most cultures and societies and is not limited to one culture.

It is thought to occur largely because people have the greatest understanding of their own culture, leading them to believe that the norms and standards of their own culture are universally adopted.

So, if they notice anything that deviates from their cultural norms, this can lead to ethnocentric attitudes.

Some researchers believe that ethnocentrism comprises in-group favoritism and vilification of out-groups; thus, people have a high opinion of their own group and think negatively about out-groups.

How does ethnocentrism relate to psychology?

The predominant view in psychology has been white males, mainly from the USA.

It means psychologists ignore views, values, language, or culture from elsewhere.

For example, views about the signs and symptoms of mental disorders in the DSM are based on white male experiences, so other experiences are ignored.

Views about appropriate patterns of child rearing are based on the practices shared in white, English-speaking cultures and other ways devalued.

In psychology, ethnocentrism can exist when researchers design studies or draw conclusions that can only be applied to one cultural group.

Ethnocentrism occurs when a researcher assumes that their own culturally specific practices or ideas are ‘natural’ or ‘right.’

The individual uses their own ethnic group to evaluate and judge other individuals from other ethnic groups. Research that is ‘centered’ around one cultural group is called ‘ethnocentric.’

When other cultures are observed to differ from the researcher’s own, they may be regarded negatively, e.g., ‘primitive,’ ‘degenerate,’ ‘unsophisticated,’ ‘undeveloped,’ etc.

This becomes racism when other cultures are denigrated, or their traditions are regarded as irrelevant etc.

Ethnocentrism in psychology can reduce the generalisability of findings since the researchers may not have accounted for cultural diversity.

What are the disadvantages of ethnocentrism?

While it is not necessarily bad to believe your culture is good or to be patriotic, ethnocentrism is the belief that your culture is superior, which can come with downfalls.

Ethnocentrism can lead to people being more close-minded to how other people live, almost as if they are living in a bubble of their own culture. This can reinforce the in-group/out-group mentality.

Believing that one’s own culture is correct can spread misinformation about other cultures, leading to negative consequences.

If a group upholds the belief that other groups are inferior to them, this could result in groups discriminating against each other. On an extreme scale, ethnocentrism can lead to prejudice or racism.

Upholding the sanctity of one’s own culture may hinder societal progress and may prevent cooperation between cultures.

Cultural groups may be less likely to help each other in times of need and may only seek to preserve the people in their own group whom they consider more important.

Specifically, ethnocentrism in research could result in negative consequences if the materials used for research are produced with one culture in mind.

An example of this is when the United States Army used IQ tests on individuals before World War I, which was biased towards white American ideas of intelligence.

Because of this, Europeans had lower scores of intelligence, and African Americans were at the bottom of the IQ scale.

This had a negative effect on the attitudes of white Americans towards these other groups of people, specifically that they were not as intelligent as them.

When research does not consider ethnocentrism, this can reinforce pre-existing discrimination and prevent other cultures from having equal opportunities.

Ethnocentrism examples

Ethnocentrism in samples.

Some of the most famous psychological studies (such as Milgram’s, Asch’s , and Zimbardo’s) used only white American males in their samples.

Conclusions were drawn from the results that the results would be the same across all cultures. However, the results were different when these studies were replicated on other groups of people.

As these studies were conducted a long time ago, you may expect that psychological research is more culturally diverse now.

However, psychology still has a long way to go to be truly representative of all cultures. There is still a strong Western bias, with one analysis finding that 90% of participants in research are drawn from Western countries, with 60% of these participants being American (Thalmayer et al., 2021).

They go on to say that only about 11% of the world’s population is represented in the top psychology journals and that 89% of the population is neglected.

The Strange Situation 

Ainsworth’s classic study of The Strange Situation (1970) is an example of ethnocentric research. This study was developed to assess the attachment types of infants – the sample in this study used all American infants.

Many researchers assumed this study has the same meaning for infants from other cultures as it did for American children. However, the results from other cultures were very different.

Most noteworthy are the differences observed in Japanese and German infants compared to American infants.

While the American ideal standard for attachment is ‘secure attachment,’ many Japanese infants displayed behaviors that would be considered ‘insecure-resistant attachment’ whilst many of the German infants displayed what would be considered ‘insecure-avoidant attachment.’

The different results from other cultures were presented as ‘abnormal’ and in need of explanation rather than considering that the differences are due to cultural differences in how children are raised.

It does not mean that German mothers are more insensitive or that Japanese mothers are too clingy to their children just because their infants react differently to American children.

The methods used in The Strange Situation are examples of imposed etic, meaning to study a culture from the outside and make inferences in relation to one culture’s standard.

More valid results could be obtained through the use of an emic study, meaning studying culture from the inside.

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Bias

Cultural bias in psychology is when research is conducted in one culture, and the findings are generalized to other cultures or are accepted as universally applicable.

Ainsworth’s research is culturally biased since standards were set regarding what securely attached means based on an American-only sample.

This theory was then generalized to other cultures so that what was considered the behavior of securely attached children in America should be what all children in other cultures should behave to be considered securely attached.

The parenting styles and behavior of their infants in cultures outside of America being seen as abnormal because it doesn’t fit the American norms is what relates cultural bias to ethnocentrism.

Another example of cultural bias relates to the designs of standardized tests such as intelligence tests. Intelligence tests that are designed by Western researchers reflect the idea of what the West considers as being intelligent.

However, Western cultures may have a different idea of what qualifies as intelligence compared to other cultures.

Thus, when using Western-designed intelligence tests in non-western countries, there is likely to be a bias in the results since the test measures something from the benchmark of different cultural experiences.

This can lead to ethnocentrism if those outside of the West score significantly lower on intelligence scores, leading to the West having the misconception that non-Western countries are less intelligent.

There are two types of cultural bias that can relate to psychological research:

Alpha bias – this occurs when a theory assumes that cultural groups are profoundly different. Since their differences are exaggerated, the cultural norms and values of the researchers are considered superior to other cultures.

Beta bias – this occurs when real cultural differences are ignored or minimized. All people are assumed to be the same, resulting in research that is universally applied to all cultures.

What is Cross-Cultural Psychology?

Cross-cultural psychology is a branch of psychology that examines how cultural factors influence human behavior.

The goal is to look at both universal and unique behaviors to establish the ways in which culture has an influence on behavior, relationships, education, etc.

After focusing on North American and European research for many years, Western researchers began to question whether many of the observations and ideas that were considered to be universal actually apply to other cultures outside of the sample that was studied.

Many cross-cultural psychologists have found that many observations about human thought and behavior may only be generalizable to specific groups.

An emic approach, which looks within cultures to identify behaviors that are specific to that culture, is usually the most appropriate approach to studying cross-culturally.

With the emic approach, researchers can immerse themselves fully into a culture and develop a deep understanding of their practices and values.

From this, they can develop research procedures and interpret the findings with that culture in mind. These procedures would then not be used across other cultures where they may yield invalid results.

What topics can be studied in cross-cultural psychology?

Cross-cultural psychology can explore many topics, such as:

Child development – whether unique cultural practices influence development.

Emotions – do all people experience emotions the same way? Is emotional expression universal?

Language – whether the acquisition of language and its development is similar or different between cultures?

Relationships – the differences in family, romantic relationships, and friendships that are influenced by culture.

Personality – the degree to which aspects of personality might be influenced by or linked with cultural influences.

Social behavior – understanding how cultural norms and expectations have an effect on social behavior.

What are the benefits of cross-cultural psychology?

By understanding what could have been cultural bias, researchers have increased their understanding of the impact of culture, cultural differences, and culture-specific behaviors.

This has had benefits when it comes to diagnosing mental illness, for example. Previously, some culture-specific behaviors were often misdiagnosed as a symptom of a disorder.

Recent issues of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) now include a list of culture-specific behaviors that help diagnose mental health issues accurately.

Modern researchers are now able to travel a lot more than they would have done in the past. They are able to have contact with people from all across the globe as well as being able to hold talks and conferences where researchers from different cultures can meet to discuss ideas.

This may mean there should be less cultural bias now since researchers from other cultures being able to talk can help grow understanding and acceptance of differences.

Researchers can also use input from people from different cultures to discuss any potential methodology flaws which can lead to cultural bias.

Ethnocentrism vs. cultural relativism

Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are two ways in which we assess a culture that is not our own.

While ethnocentrism means someone may judge other cultures based on the standards of their own cultures, cultural relativism is the notion that a culture should be understood on its own terms, without judgment against the criteria of another culture.

Someone who is ethnocentric may believe that their culture is ‘correct’ and ‘normal,’ but someone who adopts cultural relativism understands that one culture is not better than another.

An example of ethnocentrism is believing that the traditional clothing of a culture other than your own is ‘strange’ or ‘incorrect.’ In contrast, cultural relativism would appreciate and accept that different cultures have their own clothing and would not make a negative judgment about someone’s clothing even if it is different from what is the norm for them.

In research, cultural relativism is the ideology that what may be observable in research may only make sense from the perspective of the observed culture and cannot be applied to different cultures.

Ethnocentrism can be avoided or reduced by studying culture using an emic approach. This approach aims to observe cultural differences in the relevant context and uses that culture’s concepts or standards.

Ethnocentric studies are not inherently invalid and should not be disregarded. Instead, researchers should make sure to point out that their research may only be applied to the sample they studied, and the application to other cultures is questionable.

Cultural Relativism in Psychology 

An example of how cultural relativism is relevant in research is noted by Sternberg (1985), who stated that the meaning of intelligence is different in every culture.

They noticed that in some cultures, coordination and motor skills are essential to life, so if someone excels in these skills, they are considered highly intelligent according to that culture.

However, in other cultures, motor skills are less relevant to intelligent behaviors, and the culture instead values vast knowledge on a range of topics, such as intelligence instead.

There is the development of ‘indigenous psychologies’ in research, which draws explicitly on the unique experience of people in a different cultural context.

Afrocentrism is an example of this, which suggests that theories of people with African heritage must recognize the African context of behaviors and attitudes.

This approach matters because it has led to the emergence of theories that are more relevant to the lives and cultures of people not only in Africa but also those far removed from their African origins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some examples of ethnocentric behavior.

In psychology, ethnocentric behavior can occur when a researcher conducts a study in a particular culture and then states in their findings that their results can be generalized to all cultures.

Likewise, when researchers apply their theory to another culture, and the results differ from what was the norm in their culture, they state that there is something wrong with that culture.

Otherwise, some other examples of ethnocentric behavior include:

– Judging other cultures’ food and specialty dishes.

– Judging people’s cultural outfits.

– Expecting others to speak your language and criticizing them if they can’t.

– Historical colonialism.

– Judging someone who chooses to live on their own when it is traditional to always live with family in your culture.

What is ethnorelativism?

Ethnorelativism is the ability to see values and behaviors as cultural rather than universal.

It is a belief based on respect for other cultures, believing that all groups, cultures, or subcultures are inherently equal.

Furthermore, it is the belief that other cultures are no better or worse than one’s own but are equally valid despite their differences.

What is the difference between ethnocentrism and racism?

As ethnocentrism implicates a strong identification with an in-group, it can lead to ingrained negative feelings and stereotyping of out-group members, which can be confused with racism.

Whilst they are not the same, ethnocentrism can lead to prejudiced behaviors and attempts to impose one’s subjective culture onto other cultural groups.

Ethnocentric attitudes can lead to prejudice and discrimination based on race and the belief that one race is superior to all others.

What is the difference between ethnocentrism and xenocentrism?

While ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture is superior and correct compared to others, xenocentrism is the belief that other cultures are better than one’s own culture.

Essentially, xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism. In some ways, xenocentrism is considered deviant behavior as it goes against the norms of what someone is expected to appreciate.

Examples of this can include:

– The belief is that vehicles manufactured in other countries are better than ones made in your own country.

– European Renaissance artists desired to emulate ancient Greek artwork.

– The belief that cheeses and wines from other countries are superior to the products from your own country.

– The belief that the style of clothing in another culture is superior to those within your own culture.

– The idea that quality products cannot be purchased in one’s own country.

Further Information

• Teo, Thomas, and Angela R. Febbraro. “Ethnocentrism as a form of intuition in psychology.” Theory & Psychology 13.5 (2003): 673-694.
• Christopher, J. C., & Hickinbottom, S. (2008). Positive psychology, ethnocentrism, and the disguised ideology of individualism. Theory & psychology, 18(5), 563-589.

Hasa. (2020, February 17). What is the Difference Between Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism. PEDIAA. https://pediaa.com/what-is-the-difference-between-ethnocentrism-and-cultural-relativism/#:~:text=and%20Cultural%20Relativism-,Definition,using%20standards%20of%20another%20culture

Rosado, C. (1994). Understanding cultural relativism in a multicultural world.  The Elements of Moral Philosophy , 15-29.

Sternberg, R. J. (1985). Implicit theories of intelligence, creativity, and wisdom. Journal of personality and social psychology, 49(3), 607.

Thalmayer, A. G., Toscanelli, C., & Arnett, J. J. (2021). The neglected 95% revisited: Is American psychology becoming less American? American Psychologist, 76(1), 116–129.

Tilley, J. J. (2000). Cultural relativism.  Hum. Rts. Q. ,  22 , 501.

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one’s own culture. Part of ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own race, ethnic or cultural group is the most important or that some or all aspects of its culture are superior to those of other groups. Some people will simply call it cultural ignorance.

Ethnocentrism often leads to incorrect assumptions about others’ behavior based on your own norms, values, and beliefs. In extreme cases, a group of individuals may see another culture as wrong or immoral and because of this may try to convert, sometimes forcibly, the group to their own ways of living. War and genocide could be the devastating result if a group is unwilling to change their ways of living or cultural practices.

Ethnocentrism may not, in some circumstances, be avoidable. We often have involuntary reactions toward another person or culture’s practices or beliefs but these reactions do not have to result in horrible events such as genocide or war. In order to avoid conflict over culture practices and beliefs, we must all try to be more culturally relative.

Cultural relativism is the principle of regarding and valuing the practices of a culture from the point of view of that culture and to avoid making hasty judgments. Cultural relativism tries to counter ethnocentrism by promoting the understanding of cultural practices that are unfamiliar to other cultures such as eating insects, genocides or genital cutting. Take for example, the common practice of same-sex friends in India walking in public while holding hands. This is a common behavior and a sign of connectedness between two people. In England, by contrast, holding hands is largely limited to romantically involved couples, and often suggests a sexual relationship. These are simply two different ways of understanding the meaning of holding hands. Someone who does not take a relativistic view might be tempted to see their own understanding of this behavior as superior and, perhaps, the foreign practice as being immoral.

D espite the fact that cultural relativism promotes the appreciation for cultural differences, it can also be problematic. At its most extreme, cultural relativism leaves no room for criticism of other cultures, even if certain cultural practices are horrific or harmful. Many practices have drawn criticism over the years. In Madagascar, for example, the famahidana funeral tradition includes bringing bodies out from tombs once every seven years, wrapping them in cloth, and dancing with them. Some people view this practice disrespectful to the body of the deceased person. Today, a debate rages about the ritual cutting of genitals of girls in several Middle Eastern and African cultures. To a lesser extent, this same debate arises around the circumcision of baby boys in Western hospitals. When considering harmful cultural traditions, it can be patronizing to use cultural relativism as an excuse for avoiding debate. To assume that people from other cultures are neither mature enough nor responsible enough to consider criticism from the outside is demeaning.

The concept of cross-cultural relationship is the idea that people from different cultures can have relationships that acknowledge, respect and begin to understand each other’s diverse lives. People with different backgrounds can help each other see possibilities that they never thought were there because of limitations, or cultural proscriptions, posed by their own traditions. Becoming aware of these new possibilities will ultimately change the people who are exposed to the new ideas. This cross-cultural relationship provides hope that new opportunities will be discovered, but at the same time it is threatening. The threat is that once the relationship occurs, one can no longer claim that any single culture is the absolute truth.

Culture and Psychology Copyright © 2020 by L D Worthy; T Lavigne; and F Romero is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Ethnocentrism by Elizabeth Baylor LAST REVIEWED: 19 November 2019 LAST MODIFIED: 11 January 2012 DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780199766567-0045

Ethnocentrism is a term applied to the cultural or ethnic bias—whether conscious or unconscious—in which an individual views the world from the perspective of his or her own group, establishing the in-group as archetypal and rating all other groups with reference to this ideal. This form of tunnel vision often results in: (1) an inability to adequately understand cultures that are different from one’s own and (2) value judgments that preference the in-group and assert its inherent superiority, thus linking the concept of ethnocentrism to multiple forms of chauvinism and prejudice, including nationalism, tribalism, racism, and even sexism and disability discrimination. Ethnocentrism is a concept that was coined within anthropology and formed the cornerstone of its early evolutionary theory before becoming one of the discipline’s primary social critiques. It continues to both challenge and inspire anthropologists, shifting in meaning and application with theoretical trends and across the subdisciplines. For many anthropologists in the Boasian tradition, ethnocentrism is the antithesis of anthropology, a mind-set that it actively counters through cultural relativism, education, and applied activities such as cultural brokering. Physical anthropologists have tended to define the concept more generally as preferential cooperation with a defined in-group and to interrogate its potential evolutionary origins, while the postmodern trend has been a growing suspicion of the anthropologist’s own ability to transcend cultural bias in his or her analysis and presentation of the “other,” leading to an emphasis on reflexivity and subjective diversity. Outside of the discipline, ethnocentrism is a topic of study for biologists, political scientists, communication experts, psychologists, and sociologists, particularly in the areas of politics, identity, and conflict. Marketing has seized on the term to describe consumers who prefer domestically produced goods, and the derivative ethnocentric has become a common criticism in the era of globalization for those assuming their own cultural superiority.

General Overviews and Foundational Texts

It is difficult to identify a definitive text for the concept of ethnocentrism, given its shifting meanings and common usage as an implicit critique. Sumner 1906 provides the original formulation of the term, defining it as a “view of things in which one’s own group is the center of everything, and all others are scaled and rated with reference to it.” While Sumner is commonly credited with coining the term, ethnocentric was previously used in McGee 1900 to characterize what he termed the primitive mind-set. Levine and Campbell 1972 provides one of the most comprehensive and research-friendly definitions, drawing on the literature from anthropology, sociology, psychology, political science, and economics to create a set of twenty-three testable characteristics. Yet while Levine and Campbell 1972 combines in-group and out-group directed characteristics, many theorists have argued for a decoupling of these concepts, further problematizing the issue of defining ethnocentrism (see Definitions ). See Murdock 1949 for a classic formulation of ethnocentrism as a universal form of in-group consciousness and Herskovits 1948 for a standard reading of the term as a human cultural feature with an implied value judgment.

Herskovits, Melville J. 1948. Man and his works . New York: Knopf.

Classic definition of ethnocentrism as a feeling of superiority regarding one’s own culture or way of life.

Levine, Robert A., and Donald T. Campbell. 1972. Ethnocentrism: Theories of conflict, ethnic attitudes, and group behavior . New York: Wiley.

The author draws on literature from anthropology, sociology, psychology, political science, and economics in this text to define ethnocentrism as a set of twenty-three characteristics, nine of which are attitudes toward a perceived in-group (e.g., perceptions of superiority and virtue, sanctions against murder and theft) and fourteen of which are toward a perceived out-group (e.g., blaming, distrust, fear).

McGee, William J. 1900. Primitive numbers. Bureau of American Ethnology Annual Report 19:821–851.

Early source predating the classic Sumner 1906 definition. In this work, McGee uses the term ethnocentric to describe the dominant orientation characterizing primitive thought and action.

Murdock, George P. 1949. Social structure . New York: Macmillan.

Provides a useful alternative understanding of the concept of ethnocentrism, defining it as a “tendency to exalt the in-group and to depreciate other groups” (pp. 83–84).

Sumner, William G. 1906. Folkways: A study of the sociological importance of usages, manners, customs, mores, and morals . New York: Mentor.

Publication credited with coining the term ethnocentrism .

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1.3 Overcoming Ethnocentrism

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Define the concept of ethnocentrism and explain the ubiquity of ethnocentrism as a consequence of enculturation.
• Distinguish certain forms of ethnocentrism in terms of their historical relationship to forms of empire and domination.
• Identify primitivism in European and American representations of African peoples.
• Identify orientalism in European and American representations of Asian and Middle Eastern peoples.

Have you ever known somebody who seems to think the world revolves around them? The kind of friend who is always talking about themselves and never asks any questions about you and your life? The kind of person who thinks their own ideas are cool and special and their own way of doing things is absolutely the best? You may know the word used to describe that kind of person: egocentric. An egocentric person is entirely caught up in their own perspective and does not seem to care much about the perspectives of others. It is good to feel proud of your personal qualities and accomplishments, of course, but it is equally important to appreciate the personal qualities and accomplishments of others as well.

The same sort of “centric” complex operates at the level of culture. Some people in some cultures are convinced that their own ways of understanding the world and of doing things are absolutely the best and no other ways are worth consideration. They imagine that the world would be a much better place if the superior beliefs, values, and practices of their own culture were spread or imposed on everyone else in the world. This is what we call ethnocentrism .

Enculturation and Ethnocentrism

We are all brought up in a particular culture with particular norms and values and ways of doing things. Our parents or guardians teach us how to behave in social situations, how to take care of our bodies, how to lead a good life, and what we should value and think about. Our teachers, religious leaders, and bosses give us instruction about our roles, responsibilities, and relationships in life. By the time we are in our late teens or early twenties, we know a great deal about how our society works and our role in that society.

Anthropologists call this process of acquiring our particular culture enculturation . All humans go through this process. It is natural to value the particular knowledge gained through our own process of enculturation because we could not survive without it. It is natural to respect the instruction of our parents and teachers who want us to do well in life. It is good to be proud of who we are and where we came from. However, just as egocentrism is tiresome, it can be harmful for people to consider their own culture so superior that they cannot appreciate the unique qualities and accomplishments of other cultures. When people are so convinced that their own culture is more advanced, morally superior, efficient, or just plain better than any other culture, we call that ethnocentrism. When people are ethnocentric, they do not value the perspectives of people from other cultures, and they do not bother to learn about or consider other ways of doing things.

Beyond the sheer rudeness of ethnocentrism, the real problem emerges when the ethnocentrism of one group causes them to harm, exploit, and dominate other groups. Historically, the ethnocentrism of Europeans and Euro-Americans has been used to justify subjugation and violence against peoples from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. In the quest to colonize territories in these geographical areas, Europeans developed two main styles of ethnocentrism, styles that have dominated popular imagination over the past two centuries. These styles each identify a cultural “self” as European and a cultural other as a stereotypical member of a culture from a specific region of the world. Using both of these styles of ethnocentrism, Europeans strategically crafted their own coherent self-identity in contrast to these distorted images of other cultures.

Primitivism and Orientalism

Since the 18th century, views of Africans and Native Americans have been shaped by the obscuring lens of primitivism . Identifying themselves as enlightened and civilized, Europeans came to define Africans as ignorant savages, intellectually inferior and culturally backward. Nineteenth-century explorers such as Henry M. Stanley described Africa as “the dark continent,” a place of wildness and depravity (Stanley 1878). Similarly, European missionaries viewed Africans as simple heathens, steeped in sin and needing Christian redemption. Elaborated in the writings of travelers and traders, primitivism depicts Africans and Native Americans as exotic, simple, highly sexual, potentially violent, and closer to nature. Though both African and Native American societies of the time were highly organized and well-structured, Europeans often viewed them as chaotic and violent. An alternative version of primitivism depicts Africans and Native Americans as “noble savages,” innocent and simple, living in peaceful communities in harmony with nature. While less overtly insulting, the “noble savage” version of primitivism is still a racist stereotype, reinforcing the notion that non-Western peoples are ignorant, backward, and isolated.

Europeans developed a somewhat different style of ethnocentrism toward people from the Middle East and Asia, a style known as orientalism . As detailed by literary critic Edward Said (1979), orientalism portrays peoples of Asia and the Middle East as irrational, fanatical, and out of control. The “oriental” cultures of East Asia and Middle East are depicted as mystical and alluring. The emphasis here is less on biology and nature and more on sensual and emotional excess. Middle Eastern societies are viewed not as lawless but as tyrannical. Relations between men and women are deemed not just sexual but patriarchal and exploitative. Said argues that this view of Asian and Middle Eastern societies was strategically crafted to demonstrate the rationality, morality, and democracy of European societies by contrast.

In his critique of orientalism, Said points to the very common representation of Muslim and Middle Eastern peoples in mainstream American movies as irrational and violent. In the very first minute of the 1992 Disney film Aladdin , the theme song declares that Aladdin comes from “a faraway place / where the caravan camels roam / where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face / it’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.” Facing criticism by antidiscrimination groups, Disney was forced to change the lyrics for the home video release of the film (Nittle 2021). Many thrillers such as the 1994 film True Lies , starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, cast Arabs as America-hating villains scheming to plant bombs and take hostages. Arab women are frequently portrayed as sexualized belly dancers or silent, oppressed victims shrouded in veils. These forms of representation draw from and reproduce orientalist stereotypes.

Both primitivism and orientalism were developed when Europeans were colonizing these parts of the world. Primitivist views of Native Americans justified their subjugation and forced migration. In the next section, we’ll explore how current versions of primitivism and orientalism persist in American culture, tracing the harmful effects of these misrepresentations and the efforts of anthropologists to dismantle them.

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101 Ethnocentrism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Ethnocentrism is a term that refers to the belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture, often leading to a negative bias against other groups. This mindset can be seen in various aspects of society, including politics, education, and media. In order to better understand this phenomenon, many students are tasked with writing essays on ethnocentrism. If you're struggling to come up with a topic for your essay, fear not! Here are 101 ethnocentrism essay topic ideas and examples to help get you started.

• The role of ethnocentrism in shaping stereotypes
• How ethnocentrism influences international relations
• Ethnocentrism in the media: a case study of racial bias in news coverage
• The impact of ethnocentrism on immigration policies
• Ethnocentrism in the workplace: how bias affects hiring and promotion decisions
• The roots of ethnocentrism: exploring the psychological factors behind prejudice
• Ethnocentrism in education: how cultural bias affects curriculum and teaching methods
• The role of ethnocentrism in shaping national identity
• Ethnocentrism and colonialism: a historical analysis
• Ethnocentrism in the digital age: how social media reinforces bias
• The effects of ethnocentrism on mental health and well-being
• Ethnocentrism in healthcare: how bias affects patient care
• The connection between ethnocentrism and xenophobia
• Ethnocentrism in the criminal justice system: a case study of racial profiling
• The impact of ethnocentrism on economic inequality
• Ethnocentrism in the arts: how bias influences artistic representation
• The role of ethnocentrism in shaping political ideologies
• Ethnocentrism and globalization: how bias affects cross-cultural interactions
• The effects of ethnocentrism on social cohesion and community relations
• Ethnocentrism in the legal system: a case study of discrimination in the courtroom
• The relationship between ethnocentrism and nationalism
• Ethnocentrism in sports: how bias affects athlete recruitment and representation
• The impact of ethnocentrism on language preservation and revitalization efforts
• Ethnocentrism in religious communities: how bias affects interfaith relations
• The role of ethnocentrism in shaping beauty standards
• Ethnocentrism and environmental racism: a case study of pollution in marginalized communities
• The effects of ethnocentrism on cultural appropriation and misrepresentation
• Ethnocentrism in the fashion industry: how bias affects trends and marketing strategies
• The impact of ethnocentrism on mental health disparities
• Ethnocentrism in literature: how bias affects the portrayal of diverse characters
• The role of ethnocentrism in shaping housing segregation
• Ethnocentrism and social media activism: how bias affects online movements
• The effects of ethnocentrism on educational achievement gaps
• Ethnocentrism in the healthcare industry: a case study of bias in medical research
• The impact of ethnocentrism on access to resources and opportunities
• Ethnocentrism in the music industry: how bias affects representation and recognition
• The relationship between ethnocentrism and cultural appropriation
• Ethnocentrism in the criminal justice system: a case study of bias in sentencing
• The effects of ethnocentrism on mental health stigma
• Ethnocentrism in the workplace: how bias affects workplace dynamics and team cohesion
• The role of ethnocentrism in shaping political discourse and policy
• Ethnocentrism and social media: how bias affects online communities and interactions
• The impact of ethnocentrism on mental health disparities in marginalized communities
• Ethnocentrism in the fashion industry: a case study of bias in sizing and representation
• The effects of ethnocentrism on educational attainment and success
• Ethnocentrism in the healthcare industry: how bias affects patient care and treatment options
• The relationship between ethnocentrism and cultural assimilation
• Ethnocentrism in the music industry: a case study of bias in award nominations and recognition
• The role of ethnocentrism in shaping immigration policies and practices
• Ethnocentrism and social media activism: how bias affects online advocacy and awareness campaigns
• The impact of ethnocentrism on mental health disparities in LGBTQ+ communities
• Ethnocentrism in the workplace: a case study of bias in hiring and promotion decisions
• The effects of ethnocentrism on educational disparities in low-income communities
• Ethnocentrism in the criminal justice system: how bias

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14 Best Examples of Ethnocentrism (For Students)

Ethnocentrism is the belief that your culture is natural and correct while other people’s cultures are incorrect, unnatural, or inferior.

Here’s a scholarly definition from Sumner, the person who coined the term:

“…the view of things in which one’s own group is the center of everything, and all others are scaled and rated with reference to it” (Sumner, 1906)

A person who is ethnocentric will shun and look down upon other cultures and the ways they do things (also known as ‘ cultural bias ‘). They will have a narrow-minded outlook that fails to see things from other people’s perspectives (often manifesting itself as cultural blindness ). They may also ascribe to the concept of cultural universalism .

Ethnocentrism can be a contributing factor to prejudice, racism, and xenophobia. In all these instances, you’re considering yourself and your culture to be the best compared to all others.

Ethnocentric people think the ways they do things is the way things should be done, and every other culture’s way of doing things is unsavory or undesirable.

Examples of Ethnocentrism

1. judging other countries’ diets.

An example of ethnocentrism is when you judge other countries for the way they eat, but don’t have a moral reason for this.

For example, many Americans might thing Peruvians eating Guinea Pig to be disgusting. But, a Pervuvian might ask: how is eating Guinea Pig different to eating chicken? For traditional Peruvian cultures, Guinea Pigs are animals to be eaten!

Similarly, an American might turn up their nose at the French eating snails. Given that snails are not smart animals (certainly not as smart as pigs!), the idea that we would judge or shun their consumption of these animals may just be a knee jerk reaction and not based in logic.

2. Expecting Others to Speak English

Many of us arrogantly believe that everyone should speak English to us, no matter where we are in the world.

When traveling the world, many of us English-speakers live with the expectation that others will speak English to us. We have this luxury because English is currently the world’s dominant language – especially in business interactions.

This can lead to ethnocentrism when we roll our eyes are people who aren’t bilingual, even when we’re in their own country!

This is a common criticism that Quebecois Canadians have of English-speaking Canadians. They will travel to Quebec and expect Quebecers to speak English to them, even though their local language is French.

It’s a good reminder to us that we should humbly ask people if they speak English, and if they don’t, we can’t be upset. We wouldn’t want to think that English is the natural and normative language and all other people should learn it!

3. Chopsticks vs Western Cutlery

This is one of the most common examples of ethnocentrism that I start out with in my seminars on ethnocentrism.

Likely, many westerners would consider chopsticks to be a strange tool for eating. They appear clumsy and unnecessarily difficult to manage.

But many Asian cultures where chopsticks are the norm may have opposite views. They may laugh at the clumsiness of foreigners when they use chopsticks. They might consider us to be uncultured for having to use forks.

Of course, not everyone thinks this way. But some of us do, showing how we think our way of doing things is the right and natural approach, and other people’s approaches are – naturally – inferior.

4. An Idiot Abroad

I will often show my students clips from An Idiot Abroad because it’s so full of examples of ethnocentrism!

Below is a great clip of Karl eating some Egyptian delicacies. His commentary about the strangeness of it all shows his sense that his English diet (of Pasta, chicken and potatoes) is normal and the Egyptian diet is just strange.

Often when I show these clips to my students, their instant reactions are disgust at the parts of the animal that people in other parts of the world eat.

But as the Egyptian man in this clip says, it’s natural to them. They consider eating as much of the animal as possible to be the right thing to do, and anything else to be wasteful ! In this example, everyone is thinking from the norms of their own society, showing how we all tend to approach situations with a degree of ethnocentrism.

5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a fun case study in ethnocentrism that you could use in classrooms.

The film shows a Greek family living in the United States who are very proud of their Greek heritage. When the daughter decides to marry a non-Greek man, the family finds it very hard to accept.

Throughout the film, the family believes that – because their culture is best – their children should attend Greek schools, learn Greek language, and study Greek history. And of course, they also want their children to marry within the Greek community.

The film is a great example of a migrant family who not only wants to retain their cultural heritage but looks upon the dominant culture with suspicion, distaste, and even sometimes scorn.

Here, they cross over from being proud of their heritage to being biased and condescending of other people’s heritage.

6. Thinking you Don’t have an Accent (And Everyone else Does!)

When you grow up only hearing one accent, it starts to feel like that ‘accent’ is normal and not an accent at all.

You often only hear accents if they’re different from your own. That’s when your brain tells you that something sounds funny.

This will often lead people to believe that they don’t have an accent . In fact, I remember when I did my semester abroad when I was younger that we used to talk about it all the time. People would say “your accent is so funny!” and I would say “no, your accent is funny!”

This is a great example of ethnocentrism. Myself and the people I was talking to saw accents from their own perspective. We all thought our accent was normal and other people’s was funny .

Of course, this is a natural thought (it’s our brain noticing the difference sounds funny to us). This ethnocentrism can be fun, and only really has a negative effect when you start discriminating against people based on their accent.

7. Judging Women’s Cultural Outfits

Women’s outfits differ significantly across cultures and societies. And while many of us might say “It’s a woman’s right to decide what she wears and we should respect her no matter what”, different cultures have various views on this!

Plenty of Europeans might feel like it’s very normal for women to wear bikinis at the beach. But head to more conservative nations and women might always cover their shoulders or hair.

In this example, again, both cultures may use an ethnocentric lens to look at the other culture. One culture says “that’s oppression of women!” while the other says “that outfit is immodest!”

Sometimes, we need to accept other people’s cultures with an open mind and try to see where they’re coming from.

8. Colonial Imperialism

Throughout the era of European imperialism and colonization, there was a widespread belief that Indigenous populations were inferior or even unintelligent.

They looked at different types of land use (such as with nomadic cultures) and governments (such as tribal rather than parliamentary systems) as rationales for these beliefs.

This gave Europeans cover so they could invade the lands of Aboriginal populations. In fact, in Australia, the British declared Australia terra nullius , or a ‘land belonging to no one’, which they believed gave them the right to colonize.

After the lands were invaded, local cultures were oppressed and people were told that the must live, dress, eat, and act like Westerners.

9. Delegitimizing Others’ Religious Celebrations

Ethnocentrism is also often directed at other cultures’ religious beliefs.

For example, in 2014 , China attempted to crack down on the celebration of Ramadan in the Muslim region of Xinjiang.

This is an example of the dominant culture believing a minority culture’s beliefs and practices are a threat or inferior within the space of the nation. The minority culture is othered so the majority culture can maintain and promote their own practices and traditions as the natural or normative traditions within the nation-state.

This is an example of ethnocentrism being put into policy in order to protect one ethnic identity and suppress another.

10. Australia’s Stolen Generations

In most of the 20 th Century (Between 1905 and 1970), Aboriginal Australian children were frequently taken from their families and placed under the care of Anglo-Australians in a systematic effort to suppress Aboriginal cultures, with the belief that the dominant Anglo-Australian culture was superior.

Children of mixed race (derogatively labeled half-castes) were particularly targeted with the fear that these children would grow to straddle both cultures and normalize Indigenous cultural traditions among white Australians.

According to Dr. Cecil Cook , the Northern Territory Chief Protector of Aborigines, there was urgency to ensure mixed race children reject Aboriginal cultures:

“Everything necessary [must be done] to convert the half-caste into a white citizen”.

11. Canada’s Residential Schools

In a similar approach to Australia, colonial Canada established residential boarding schools where first nations children would be forcibly taken in order to snuff out Indigenous cultures within Canada.

Residential schools were set up in 1828, and while most were closed in the 1960s, the last one closed in 1997.

The stated goal was to assimilate the first nations children into white Canadian culture. This would be achieved by removing children from their parents. As John A McDonald, Canada’s first prime minister, stated :

“Indian children should be withdrawn as much as possible from the parental influence.”

As part of this effort, the Canadian government placed residential schools as far from the Indian Reserves as possible. Parents would still come to the schools and camp out the front to be closer to their children, leading to a visitation pass system designed to further separate parents from their children.

12. American Exceptionalism

American exceptionalism – often characterized by the oft-repeated saying that “America is the best country in the world” – was coined by Alexis de Tocqueville in 1831.

This is a topic that verges on ethnocentrism but does not always reach that level.

The idea behind American exceptionalism is that America’s founding (based on its constitution, and the fact the nation was founded as a free and anti-elite republic) gave America a special place in the world. This often translates to American foreign policy where the nation sees themselves as the ‘world police’ whose role is to promote freedom around the world.

Here, you can see that America sees themselves as the idealized norm against which other nations should be judged (and always found wanting!).

The concept of American exceptionalism also leads to a concept known as nationalistic Americentrism, a smug and egotistical belief that the United States is morally superior and its culture more important than those of other nations.

As former President Obama argued , American exceptionalism can also lead to failure to see the good in (and learn from) other nations. It may lead us to be reluctant to collaborate with or care for other nations’ cultures and lead migrants to feel like they should assimilate.

Here, you can see, there’s a fine line between love for your culture and nation, and irrational belief in your own country’s superiority.

13. The Spanish Inquisition

The Spanish Inquisition is one of the most extreme examples of religious ethnocentrism that has occurred in human history.

Between 1478 and 1834, the Catholic Spanish rulers decided that Catholicism should be the ascendant religion within Spain. Muslims and Jews within Spain were forced to convert or be killed.

The Inquisition has many of the hallmarks of ethnocentrism. There was a belief that Catholicism was the best religion and that all other religions were intolerable. Catholicism was the naturalized religion in society and all others were judged by Catholic doctrine to be heretics.

14. Assimilationism

Assimilation policies state that immigrants to a country should leave their old culture behind and embrace their host country’s culture.

This is a mindset that is driven by fear that your culture will be diluted by migrants. Some could argue that it is ethnocentric because it reveals a preference for your culture to remain the dominant norm and remain the standard within your country.

But, other people might argue that the willingness to protect your own culture is not ethnocentrism because it’s not saying other cultures are less valuable but rather that yours needs protection. Here, it all depends on perspective – and even, perhaps, judgement about whether a culture is genuinely under threat of dying out.

Other immigration approaches include Integration, where different cultures all live together in a patchwork throughout a city, and Self-Determination , where everyone can choose which culture they want to follow.

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Is Everyone Ethnocentric?

Ethnocentrism is a bias or even a knee-jerk reaction where you are illogically inclined to believe that your way of doing things is best. Everyone has this anchoring bias deep down inside them, so the trick is to identify it and try to avoid it.

Of course, you can use logic, research, and reasoning to decide that the way your culture does things appear to be the best approach for you. That wouldn’t be ethnocentric because it would be based on thoughtfulness and balance. But, be sure to stay open-minded and avoid making unfair judgements of others.

As we’ve seen, such uninformed judgements have had terrible consequences around the world.

The opposite of this is xenocentrism, where you believe another culture is better than your own. For example, some people who move to the United States might have dreamed of fleeing their homeland to the USA since childhood because they’ve loved the concept of freedom, small government, and capitalism.

Taking a look at ethnocentrism helps us to identify our own biases and blind spots. And usually, people who study ethnocentrism come to conclusions that highlight the importance of cultural pluralism (that is, cultures living together and respecting one another) and compassion.

While we might not want to change our culture and traditions, we could use the theory of ethnocentrism to get to know other people’s cultures better. However, if we get go too far the other way, we end up being cultural relativists – with no moral framework guiding us at all. If we understand other people’s perspectives, we can live more harmoniously together, and remain open-minded to learning from each other.

Related: 6 Types of Cultural Diffusion

Bizumic, B., & Duckitt, J. H. (2012). What is and is not ethnocentrism? A conceptual analysis and political implications.  Political Psychology,  33 , 887-909.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9221.2012.00907.x

Permatasari, R. (2019). The Negative Effects of Ethnocentrism in My Big Fat Greek Wedding Movie.  Jurnal Penelitian Humaniora ,  20 (2), 89-97. https://doi.org/10.23917/humaniora.v20i2.7401

Sumner, W. G. (1906). Folkways: A study of the sociological importance of usages, manners, customs, mores, and morals. Boston, MA: Ginn and Company.

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2 thoughts on “14 Best Examples of Ethnocentrism (For Students)”

Share an example of ethnocentrism in the media or popular culture. How does it perpetuate stereotypes?

In popular culture, the portrayal of non-Western societies as exotic, backward, or uncivilized in movies and TV shows is a form of ethnocentrism. Such representations perpetuate stereotypes by suggesting that Western norms and values are superior, while other cultures are seen as strange or inferior.

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Essays on Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism: journal article critique.

The article ‘Confronting My Own Ethnocentrism and Racism: A Process of Pain and Growth’ explains a white counselor’s journey to both cognitive and emotional change. The problems of racism and ethnocentrism are presented as a system that is deeply ingrained within the moral fabric of the society. They surpass the common manifestations of abusing or […]

The Importance of Verbal Communication and The Negative Impact of Ethnocentrism

Human advances within the realm of knowledge and technology, including travel and public transportation on a national and global scale, are changing the way individuals are living and communicating on a societal and cultural level (Sison, 2017). Sison reports that “The United Nations reported 244 million international migrants living worldwide in 2015, up by 41 […]

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Essay on Ethnocentrism and The Actress Ana Garcia

Culture is defined sociologically as the compromise of beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other characteristics common to the members of a particular group to society. Ana Garcia lives in a Latino community, with greatly fixed ties to her traditional Mexican background and upbringing, in East Los Angles. Throughout the film, issues such as ethnocentrism and the […]

Discussion of Ethnocentrism and Other Topics

Una Marson is the most impactful Caribbean feminist. Lisa Tomlinson, a lecturer of Literary and Cultural Studies at the University of the West Indies, wrote a three-chapter biography on the life and work of Una Marson. ‘Una Marson’ is one of five written in the Caribbean Biography Series which is a collection of pieces about […]

Definition of Ethnocentrism and Its Consequences

Introduction It is common for us to have the feeling that our own culture is somehow better than the people around us. You might step back and say, “I wouldn’t ever think I’m better than someone else.” But our society has taught us to think that we are without us even knowing it. Of course, […]

The Prominence of Ethnocentrism in The Usa

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Perception and Prejudice Toward Ethnocentrism

“Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgement” (Wardlaw, “Top 25 Judgement Quotes: A-Z Quotes”). This quote from Will Rogers highlights the fact that that exercising appropriate judgment when communicating with people of diverse cultures can be daunting. Disparities in cultures can lead to disagreements, and consequently, ineffective communication. How many times […]

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The following essay provides an account of consumer materialism and consumer ethnocentrism amongst the youth of South Africa and globally. It promotes the factors contributing to the high levels of consumer materialism and consumer ethnocentrism amongst the youth of South Africa and globally. Furthermore, this essay illustrates the implications of the high levels of consumer […]

Is “American Exceptionalism” an Example of Ethnocentrism

American exceptionalism is an interesting concept that does not yet have a formal definition, yet, there are a few varying conceptions. Within this paper, I will discuss in detail the idea of American exceptionalism. The term itself has been spoken many times in politics, but sometimes the lack of explanation and scrutinization goes not noticed. […]

Essay on Ethnocentrism

The United States is an amalgamation of different communities, races, and ethnic backgrounds. Some of the earliest inhabitants of the modern-day united states were the western Native Americans. However, the white American immigrants fleeing European persecution would find their way into the United States. However, the interactions between the two groups were largely influenced by ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism occurs when one group feels its cultural approach is superior to the other. Ethnocentrism is fraught with cultural bias, both conscious and unconscious. Sadly, the phenomenon pervades modern society. The following paper assesses ethnocentrism concerning the early inhabitants of the United States and modern society.

Ethnocentrism significantly affected the interaction between the Native Americans and white American immigrants. One of the major effects of ethnocentrism in the early interactions was the bias exhibited by the white immigrants against the Native American community members. The white immigrant, for instance, viewed the culture of the Native Americans as weak and wrong. Subsequently, they attempted to convert the Native Americans to Christianity, the major religion of the white American immigrants (Kamensky et al., 2019). Additionally, they sought to introduce their form of education to the Native American community. The Native American community education system involves the elders educating the younger community members. However, the immigrant introduced formal schools and formal education. Moreover, ethnocentrism drove the calls and eventual removal of the Native Americans from their lands to give way for the immigrants to institute cotton plantations (Kamensky et al., 2019). This move went against the land tenure approach of the Native Americans while also ignoring their cultural grounds.

Ethnocentrism continues to pervade modern society. Members of certain communities continue to feel that their culture is superior to others. This is often actualized through judging other cultures based on one’s beliefs rather than acknowledging cultural and experiential differences. An example of modern-day ethnocentrism is the expectation that all inhabitants of the united states should speak in English. This belief ignores the cultural beliefs and experiences of other cultures. Additionally, judging the diets of their cultures. Americans could view the diets of other communities as gross and disgusting. For instance, Americans could believe that eating guinea pigs is disgusting. However, this is essentially judging other people’s cultures unfavorably based on one’s cultural superiority (Wilkins et al., 2019).

Ethnocentrism is also evident in international relations. An example of ethnocentrism is colonialism (Filc, 2015). Colonialism was predicated on the belief that certain communities were inferior, hence applying colonialism to subjugate their territory. Colonialism resulted in the introduction of imperialist cultures and value systems. Moreover, the continued effort by western nations to introduce western ideals such as democracy across the globe is another form of ethnocentrism. This approach essentially asserts that western culture is superior to other civilizations. However, an ideal position would allow all communities to explore their political beliefs freely.

In conclusion, the paper assesses ethnocentrism concerning the early inhabitants of the United States and modern society. Ethnocentrism influenced the relationship between Native Americans and white Americans, as highlighted by efforts by the whites to introduce their cultural beliefs and values. Nevertheless, ethnocentrism is apparent in modern society and international relations.

Filc, D. (2015). Latin American inclusive and European exclusionary populism: colonialism as an explanation.  Journal of Political Ideologies ,  20 (3), 263–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/13569317.2015.1075264

Kamensky, J., Sheriff, C., Blight, D. W., Chudacoff, H. P., Logevall, F., Bailey, B., & Beth, M. (2019).  A People and a Nation: A History of the United States  (11th ed.). Norton.

Wilkins, S., Butt, M. M., Shams, F., & Pérez, A. (2019). The acceptance of halal food in non-Muslim countries.  Journal of Islamic Marketing . https://doi.org/10.1108/jima-11-2017-0132

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