Assumptions made about others based on their membership in a social group are referred to as what?

The term that accurately describes assumptions made about others based on their membership in a social group is "stereotypes." Stereotypes are oversimplified ideas or images that people have about particular groups, often leading to generalized beliefs about individuals within those groups, regardless of their unique characteristics. These preconceived notions can result in misjudgments and impact interactions within diverse environments, such as workplaces or educational settings.

Generalizations, while similar, typically refer to broader inferences drawn from a wide range of data or experiences, rather than the fixed and often negative connotations that stereotypes carry. Assumptions are more general and can apply to any belief held without concrete evidence, not specifically tied to social group membership. Profiles usually involve detailed descriptions or characterizations of individuals based on a range of traits, rather than simplistic assumptions based solely on group affiliation. Each of these terms has distinct implications, but "stereotypes" is the most precise in its relation to making broad assumptions based on social groups.