overgeneralise
Draw sweeping conclusions
To overgeneralise is to draw broad conclusions from limited evidence, applying what's true in some cases to all cases.
You can't overgeneralise from one bad experience.
The tendency appears in stereotyping, hasty conclusions, and sweeping statements that ignore exceptions.
British spelling; American English uses overgeneralize.
Stripping complexity unfairly
- reductionismExplaining wholes through parts
- conflateMerge distinct elements
- extrapolationExtending data beyond bounds
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
deduction · induction · assumption · conjecture · supposition · speculation · hypothesis · postulation
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
- typecastRepeatedly assigned similar roles
- pigeonholeClassify too rigidly
- labelIdentifying attachment or marker
profile · cliche · stigma · archetype · stereotype · stereotypical · trope · stock character
Error in reasoning
- misjudgmentFaulty evaluation of something
- misconceptionErroneous belief or understanding
- inaccuracyLack of precision
- distortionTwisting from original state
exaggeration · unfounded · invalid · illogical · unsubstantiated · unwarranted · unjustified · flawed
Belief formed beforehand
- prejudgmentOpinion formed beforehand
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
- narrow-mindednessClosed thinking, limited perspective
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
discrimination · racism · sexism · ageism · xenophobia · intolerance · sectarianism · chauvinism
oversimplification
Stripping complexity unfairly
- reductionismExplaining wholes through parts
- conflateMerge distinct elements
- extrapolationExtending data beyond bounds
inference · deduction · induction · assumption · conjecture · supposition · speculation · hypothesis · postulation · abstraction
prejudice
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
- typecastRepeatedly assigned similar roles
- pigeonholeClassify too rigidly
label · profile · cliche · stigma · archetype · stereotype · stereotypical · trope · stock character · one-dimensional
fallacy
Error in reasoning
- misjudgmentFaulty evaluation of something
- misconceptionErroneous belief or understanding
- inaccuracyLack of precision
distortion · exaggeration · unfounded · invalid · illogical · unsubstantiated · unwarranted · unjustified · flawed · faulty
preconception
Belief formed beforehand
- prejudgmentOpinion formed beforehand
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
- narrow-mindednessClosed thinking, limited perspective
bigotry · discrimination · racism · sexism · ageism · xenophobia · intolerance · sectarianism · chauvinism · favoritism
overgeneralisespecify
State in detail
particularise · differentiate · discriminate · nuance · qualify