Normally racism is used to mean generalizing about an entire race based on a few individual examples, but what is the word to mean to apply attributes of an entire race to a single individual? That is often referred to as racism as well, but I believe they are distinct and would like a more precise word or term. I know the terms for the logical fallacies associated with it, but am seeking a general English term.
For example, three nurples bit me, therefore all nurples are biters. This is a case of an overgeneralization.
This is the term I'm looking for: Most nurples are savants. Aijan is a nurple. Therefore Aijan is a savant. This is a case of fallacy of division.
Is there a more plain word to express the second example, carrying the connotation of racism, but not the word racism proper?
Best Answer
Where racism is a move from specific to general, discrimination is a move from the more general to the more specific.
discrimination 3. Treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit; partiality or prejudice
This means that prejudices held by an individual towards a group are transferred onto a single individual without regards to his individual merits. Of course, discrimination has a more general sense (as does racism) but according to your dichotomy, it fits the movement from general prejudice to individual prejudice.