preconceptions
Ideas before evidence
Preconceptions are opinions or ideas formed before having adequate knowledge or experience.
The word carries a note of bias—preconceptions may prove wrong once you actually encounter the thing: I had preconceptions about the neighborhood that turned out to be unfounded.
Unlike misconceptions, preconceptions aren't necessarily false, just premature.
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
- predispositionInnate tendency toward something
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
intolerance · favoritism · one-sidedness · slant · leaning · inclination · tendency · closed-mindedness
Comprehensive belief framework
- ideologyStructured belief framework
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- received wisdomUnquestioned popular belief
Belief held without proof
- suppositionBelief without proof
- presuppositionImplicit prior assumption
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
inference · speculation · guesswork · anticipation · expectation · prejudgment · foregone conclusion · predetermination
Deriving principles from examples
- oversimplificationStripping complexity unfairly
- pigeonholingAssigning to narrow categories
- typecastingAssigning actors similar roles
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
caricature · cliché · profiling · categorization · snap judgment · mental shortcut
prejudice
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
- predispositionInnate tendency toward something
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
bigotry · intolerance · favoritism · one-sidedness · slant · leaning · inclination · tendency · closed-mindedness · narrow-mindedness
worldview
Comprehensive belief framework
- ideologyStructured belief framework
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
received wisdom · cultural conditioning · socialization · paradigm
presumption
Belief held without proof
- suppositionBelief without proof
- presuppositionImplicit prior assumption
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
hypothesis · inference · speculation · guesswork · anticipation · expectation · prejudgment · foregone conclusion · predetermination · hasty generalization
generalization
Deriving principles from examples
- oversimplificationStripping complexity unfairly
- pigeonholingAssigning to narrow categories
- typecastingAssigning actors similar roles
labeling · caricature · cliché · profiling · categorization · snap judgment · mental shortcut
- Assumptionsfalse assumption, stereotypes, generalizations, biases, prejudices
- thoughtsthought, idea, thoughts, ideas, thinking
- schemasschemas, schemata, mental models, data model, star schema
preconceptionsconclusions
Judgments reached through reasoning
hindsight · afterthoughts · realizations · discoveries · findings
preconceptionsopen-mindedness
Acceptance of differing viewpoints
open mind · receptivity · impartiality · objectivity · blank slate