[eth-noh-sen-triz-uh
m] 
| 1. | Sociology. the belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture. |
| 2. | a tendency to view alien groups or cultures from the perspective of one's own. |
| eth·no·cen·trism (ěth'nō-sěn'trĭz'əm) n.
|
The belief that one's own culture is superior to all others and is the standard by which all other cultures should be measured.
Note: Early social scientists in the nineteenth century operated from an ethnocentric point of view. So-called primitive tribes, for example, were studied by anthropologists to illustrate how human civilization had progressed from “savage” customs toward the accomplishments of Western industrial society.
ethnocentrism eth·no·cen·trism (ěth'nō-sěn'trĭz'əm)
n.
The tendency to evaluate other groups according to the values and standards of one's own ethnic group, especially with the conviction that one's own ethnic group is superior to the other groups.
