overgeneralize

Thân thiện

Drawing a conclusion from a single event is a classic example of overgeneralize.

Definition

Verb: * To form a conclusion or make a statement that is too broad or sweeping, applying a specific observation or rule to all situations or cases without sufficient evidence or consideration of exceptions.

Usage

This verb describes the cognitive error of extending a specific idea, rule, or observation to an overly wide range of situations. It is often used in academic, psychological, and critical thinking contexts to identify flawed reasoning.

Examples

• Verb:
  • It is easy to overgeneralize from a single bad experience.
  • The researcher warned against overgeneralizing the study's findings to the entire population.
  • You cannot overgeneralize and say all politicians are corrupt based on one scandal.

Advanced Usage

• Noun Form (Overgeneralization): The act or an instance of overgeneralizing.
  • His argument was weakened by several logical overgeneralizations.
• Linguistics Context: In language acquisition, it refers to a child applying a grammatical rule too broadly (e.g., saying "goed" instead of "went").
  • The child's use of "foots" is a common overgeneralization of the plural "-s" rule.

Variants and Related Words

• Overgeneralization (n): The act or result of overgeneralizing.
• Generalize (v): To make a general statement or form a general principle. ("Overgeneralize" is an excessive or faulty form of this.)
• Stereotype (v/n): To overgeneralize a fixed and oversimplified image or idea about a group of people.

Synonyms

• Oversimplify
• Make a sweeping statement
• Paint with a broad brush

Antonyms

• Specify
• Qualify
• Nuance
• Differentiate

Học thuật

Verb

1. draw too general a conclusion
   • It is dangerous to overgeneralize

Từ đồng nghĩa

• overgeneralise