Ethnocentrism means placing one’s own culture at the center and, by extension, criticizing all other cultures as deviant, abnormal, or inferior. One serious negative consequence of the refusal to take other cultures seriously is the endorsement of stereotypes. Rather than investigating the nuances of any particular culture, those who endorse ethnocentric perspectives assume their own superiority. Another related consequence, therefore, is racism. Although culture is not in itself biologically based, those who endorse ethnocentric perspectives often equate culture with biology and therefore assume that a racially linked characteristic is superior. The most general negative consequence is blocked communication. Those who assume themselves superior are generally unwilling to entertain, or may dismiss, others’ perspectives. Beyond the cultural dimensions, these negative attitudes support legal and political obstacles to other people’s achievements.
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