Essentialism
Essentialism is the belief that categories of people or things have a hidden, unchanging core that makes them what they are. It leads us to treat group differences as fixed and natural and to overlook how much circumstances shape them.
In everyday life
A hiring manager says someone who grew up poor will 'always have that mindset', as if it were built into them at birth.
You refuse to wear a sweater that once belonged to a person you despise, feeling that something of them is still in it even after it has been washed.
Why your mind does this
We rarely have full information about a person or situation, so the brain fills gaps with what usually holds true for similar cases. Relying on categories, rules of thumb and trusted sources saves a huge amount of time and effort. For most of history, following the group and trusting experienced elders was a safe bet.
Its family, in 30 seconds: Stereotypes
How to spot it
Listen for phrases like 'it's in their nature', 'born that way' or 'they'll never change'.
How to counter it
Look for members of the category who changed or who differ, and ask what circumstances explain the difference.
Same family: Stereotypes
SourcesHaslam et al. (2000)·Wikipedia