ETHNOCENTRISM

ETHNOCENTRISM
Ethnocentrism is broadly defined as an interpretive
framework based on the perception that one’s own
ethnic or cultural group (in-group) is superior to other
groups (out-groups). The concept of ethnocentrism
was developed by sociologist W. G. Sumner in 1906
and expanded by Theodor Adorno et al. in 1950.
Ethnocentrism is often linked to cultural bias, which
is defined as judging behaviors and beliefs in terms of
what is normative and appropriate to one’s own cul-
ture. Although ethnocentrism and cultural bias can
involve positive stereotyping, these concepts are more
often used to frame outsiders as biologically or
morally inferior. This entry includes a brief discussion
of the sociopolitical roots of ethnocentrism within the
context of European colonialist expansion; power
relations and genocidal cleansing within sociopoliti-
cal contexts; ethnic markers; and the contemporary
debate regarding ethnocentrism versus cultural
relativism