The term essentialism, when applied to groups, refers to the belief(s) that
A) all members of a group are similar to one another.
B) knowing that a person is a member of a group provides useful information about what the person is like.
C) people are either similar to members of the group or not; there is no in-between state.
D) all of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Essentialism is the belief that all members of a group share certain essential characteristics or qualities that define what it means to be a part of that group. This can lead to the belief that all members are similar to one another (A), and that knowing someone's group membership provides useful information about their traits or behavior (B). It can also contribute to a belief in clear-cut categories or boundaries between groups without any overlap or ambiguity (C). Therefore, all of the above (D) are accurate descriptions of essentialism.

The Term Essentialism, When Applied to Groups, Refers to the Belief(s)