Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.

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Ethnocentrism is judging other cultures by the standards of your own culture and assuming that your culture’s values, practices, and people are superior. The statement captures that belief of superiority tied to one’s nation or ethnic group. Cultural relativism, by contrast, asks us to understand beliefs and behaviors within their own cultural context without ranking them against our own. Racism centers on the idea that biological differences among groups determine superiority, which can align with ethnocentric bias but is rooted in biology rather than cultural judgment alone. Xenophobia involves fear or hostility toward outsiders and may accompany ethnocentrism, but it is a distinct attitude. In practice, recognizing ethnocentrism helps clinicians avoid imposing personal cultural norms on clients, foster cultural humility, and tailor assessment and treatment to align with clients’ backgrounds and values.