generalization

American  

[jen-er-uh-luh-zey-shuhn] / ˌdʒɛn ər ə ləˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of generalizing.

2. a result of this process; a general statement, idea, or principle.

3. Logic.

   1. a proposition asserting something to be true either of all members of a certain class or of an indefinite part of that class.

   2. the process of obtaining such propositions.

4. Psychology.

   1. Also called stimulus generalization.  the act or process of responding to a stimulus similar to but distinct from the conditioned stimulus.

   2. Also called response generalization.  the act or process of making a different but similar response to the same stimulus.

   3. Also called mediated generalization.  the act or process of responding to a stimulus not physically similar to the conditioned stimulus and not previously encountered in conditioning.

   4. the act or process of perceiving similarity or relation between different stimuli, as between words, colors, sounds, lights, concepts or feelings; the formation of a general notion.

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generalization British  

/ ˌdʒɛnrəlaɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

1. a principle, theory, etc, with general application

2. the act or an instance of generalizing

3. psychol the evoking of a response learned to one stimulus by a different but similar stimulus See also conditioning

4. logic the derivation of a general statement from a particular one, formally by prefixing a quantifier and replacing a subject term by a bound variable. If the quantifier is universal ( universal generalization ) the argument is not in general valid; if it is existential ( existential generalization ) it is valid

5. logic any statement ascribing a property to every member of a class ( universal generalization ) or to one or more members ( existential generalization )

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Etymology

Origin of generalization

First recorded in 1755–65; generalize + -ation

Explanation

Taking something specific and applying it more broadly is making a generalization. It's a generalization to say all dogs chase squirrels. A generalization is taking one or a few facts and making a broader, more universal statement. If all the girls you know play with dolls, you might make the generalization that all girls play with dolls. Scientists try to make generalizations based on research — the more data they have, the more accurate the generalization. Generalizations can be similar to stereotypes in that they are sometimes wrong and harmful. Usually, it's best to stick with specifics and avoid generalizations.

Example Sentences

Generalization and abstraction dissipate the impact of his message.

From New York Times • Mar. 4, 2022

The Danger of Generalization One big danger, Haji says, is that people will generalize about the solar – or even the whole cleantech industry – based on Solyndra’s high-profile failure.

From Forbes • Sep. 24, 2011

The auctioneer's voice boomed out the cow's pedigree: "ZangwilPs Bijou Lass, the daughter of Throaty Contralto by that great sire Glittering Generalization."

From Time Magazine Archive

Generalization is necessary to the advancement of knowledge; but particularity is indispensable to the creations of the imagination.

From Beacon Lights of History, Volume 13 Great Writers; Dr Lord's Uncompleted Plan, Supplemented with Essays by Emerson, Macaulay, Hedge, and Mercer Adam by Lord, John

Generalization simply reduces the richness of content and, consequently, of implication.

From International Congress of Arts and Science, Volume I Philosophy and Metaphysics by Various

Related Words

• acumen
• analysis
• argument
• hypothesis
• inference
• interpretation
• premise
• proposition
• rationale
• thinking