generalization
Pattern from particulars
A generalization is a broad statement or principle derived from specific instances.
From observing several examples, you form a generalization about the whole: It's a generalization, but restaurants near tourist sites tend to be overpriced.
Generalizations trade precision for breadth—useful for quick thinking but vulnerable to exceptions.
To generalize is to make such statements or to apply broadly: Don't generalize from one bad experience.
Recurring arrangement or template
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- universalAffecting all equally
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
template · model · paradigm · simplification · essence · distillation · schema · synthesis
Formal admission process
- deductionConclusion from premises
- extrapolationExtending data beyond bounds
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
- conclusionEnd or deduction
reasoning · analogy · correlation · prediction · projection · hypothesis · conjecture · postulation
Unwarranted broad application
- anecdotalBased on casual observation
- cherry-pickingChoosing only supporting examples
- unrepresentativeNot reflecting the whole
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
Belief held without proof
- suppositionBelief without proof
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- beliefTrust held as true
expectation · anticipation · surmise · leap · overreach · hasty · unfounded · broad
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- oversimplificationStripping complexity unfairly
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
- pigeonholeClassify too rigidly
typecast · label · profile · stigma · cliché · profiling · lumping · reductionism
pattern
Recurring arrangement or template
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- universalAffecting all equally
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
prototype · template · model · paradigm · simplification · essence · distillation · schema · synthesis · category
induction
Formal admission process
- deductionConclusion from premises
- extrapolationExtending data beyond bounds
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
conclusion · reasoning · analogy · correlation · prediction · projection · hypothesis · conjecture · postulation · supposition
overgeneralization
Unwarranted broad application
- anecdotalBased on casual observation
- cherry-pickingChoosing only supporting examples
- unrepresentativeNot reflecting the whole
presumption
Belief held without proof
- suppositionBelief without proof
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
belief · expectation · anticipation · surmise · leap · overreach · hasty · unfounded · broad · sweeping
bias
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- oversimplificationStripping complexity unfairly
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
pigeonhole · typecast · label · profile · stigma · cliché · profiling · lumping · reductionism · essentialism
truism
Statement needing no proof
platitude · axiom · dictum · saying · precept · rule-of-thumb · commonplace · bromide
- inferenceinference, logical inference, entailment, syllogism, deduction
- conceptscategorization, typicality, abstraction, family resemblance, basic level
- cognitionthinking, reasoning, thought, cognition, remembering
- map featurescompass, compass rose, legend, scale, scale bar
- thinking skillslogic, logical thinking, logical reasoning, reasoning, reason
- utterancesutterance, statements, exclamation, assertion, questions
generalizationspecificity
Exactness of detail
particularity · specific · particular · specialization · instance
generalizationfact
Verifiable piece of information
evidence · data · observation · proof · documentation
generalizationdetail
Single small element
specifics · particulars · nuance · elaboration · minutiae
- hasty generalizationConclusion from insufficient evidence