Ethnocentrism is the tendency to judge other cultures based on the standards of ones own culture, rather than the standards of the other particular culture. It involves evaluating other cultures and ethnic groups based on the standards and customs of one's own cultural or ethnic group. Ethnocentrism can sometimes be related to racism, stereotyping, discrimination, or xenophobia, but it does not necessarily involve a negative view of others' race or ethnicity.
The opposite of ethnocentrism is cultural relativism, which is a guiding philosophy that states the best way to understand a different culture is through their perspective rather than judging them from the subjective viewpoints shaped by one's own cultural standards.
Ethnocentrism can lead to incorrect assumptions about others' behavior based on one's own norms, values, and beliefs. In extreme cases, a group of individuals may see another culture as wrong or immoral and 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.
It is important to be aware of ethnocentrism and strive to be more culturally relative to avoid conflict over cultural practices and beliefs.
