Hasty Generalization

     Hasty generalization is when you make an assumption about the larger entire group just from a few things that happened to perhaps the small group only once or twice. The assumption is made with inadequate evidence, demeaning the claim that was made. It happens in everyday life all the time even though we may not know it. Most commonly, stereotypes. Saying that “Asians are smart” is the first one that I think of. All throughout High School I heard this so often. If an Asian aced a test it was nothing because it was expected of them just because there has been a hasty generalization made that all Asians are smart. Another common one is when people say “American Heritage is hard”. This definitely started out as a hasty generalization. Maybe a group of friends did poorly in the class, didn't like their teacher, and then told everyone it was the hardest class at BYU. Just because of these few people, now everyone attending BYU comes scared and cautious of American Heritage. Then, the first thing that they tell you is to not worry because people have built up its difficulty way too much. I wasn't necessarily fooled by this fallacy, but I sure did use it to help me not care about getting a C in the class. After finishing the class, I realized that the reason I got a C wasn't because it was the hardest class in the world, it was because I never did the reading and I hate history. One we can all relate to is the funny Old Spice commercial with the rather attractive man. He says, “Anything is possible when your man smells like Old Spice.” I’m pretty sure “anything” is not possible just because your man smells like Old Spice. But it’s a nice thought.