Instinct 5 of 10
The Generalization Instinct
The tendency to assume that one group's behavior or characteristics apply universally.
Understanding The Generalization Instinct
The Generalization Instinct is our tendency to form categories and assume everything in a category is similar. While categorization is essential for thinking, it becomes dangerous when we assume all members of a group are the same, or when categories are drawn incorrectly.
How It Distorts Your Thinking
This instinct makes us see groups as more homogeneous than they are. We assume that what's true for one member of a group is true for all, or that groups from different contexts are comparable when they're not.
Real-World Examples
- 1
Assuming all countries in 'Africa' have similar economic conditions when variation is enormous
- 2
Believing that behavior in one 'Western' country applies to all Western countries
- 3
Thinking that one example of a group's behavior represents the entire group
How Veremet Helps
We synthesize multiple viewpoints and highlight within-group diversity. Our evidence gathering explicitly seeks variation within categories to prevent overgeneralization.
Practice Exercises
Use these exercises to recognize and counteract The Generalization Instinct in your daily life:
Look for differences within groups, not just similarities
Question whether categories are being drawn correctly—are these things actually comparable?
Seek data on variation within any group before making generalizations