What is ethnocentrism?

• A. Recognizing universal cultural norms.
• B. Tendency to judge people from other cultures by the standards of one's own culture.
• C. Valuing all cultures equally.
• D. Learning from other cultures through direct contact.

Answer: (B)

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to judge people from other cultures by the standards and norms of one's own culture. It means assuming that your own practices are natural or superior and using them as the benchmark to evaluate others. This bias can lead to stereotypes and misunderstandings, making it harder to appreciate diverse ways of living. In contrast, cultural relativism would urge evaluating beliefs and practices within their own cultural context rather than against your own framework. The other options describe recognizing universal norms, valuing all cultures equally, or learning from others through contact, which do not capture the judgmental bias that ethnocentrism involves.