Ethnocentrism is a fundamental concept according to which a certain nationality, race, social layer or group is perceived as prevailing and significantly superior to all others. This point of view is characteristic of most communities, which are to some extent independent and independent of others.
This kind of position seems to be an absolutely natural attitude of people towards everything incomprehensible and alien to them. In this case, ethnocentrism is the means by which one race or group identifies itself, preserves its own cultural features and determines its location among others.
As for the assessment of this phenomenon, like any other social phenomenon, it cannot be considered only from the positive or only from the negative side, a comprehensive approach is necessarily necessary.
From one point of view, ethnocentrism is something that quite often acts as an obstacle to the organization of conflict-free intergroup interaction. On the other hand, ethnocentrism is also at the same time what ensures the maintenance of ethnic identity and the preservation of the uniqueness and integrity of the group. That is, under certain conditions, this phenomenon can be characterized in completely different ways. For example, cultural ethnocentrism as a logical consequence of the process of assimilation of the traditions of a particular society or nation is absolutely positive. And we are talking only about assessing the world around us through our own filters, which are inherent in absolutely every person.
Separately, it is worth noting that this socio-psychological phenomenon can cause in society both positive social consequences, such as a sense of national unity and patriotism, as well as negative ones.
The main examples of ethnocentrism, which carries negative traits, are nationalism, chauvinism and discrimination. One of the most extreme varieties of this phenomenon is racism, defined as a set of judgments, according to which a certain race surpasses all the others both mentally and morally and culturally, and the super-qualities inherent in its carriers are transmitted exclusively by inheritance. According to this example, ethnocentrism is what is the ideological foundation and stimulator in the struggle for power and influence between different nations. Proponents of racism oppose the mixing of races, because, in their opinion, this can lead to genetic, moral and cultural degradation of the "higher" race.
In conclusion, it should be noted that all people are ethnocentric to one degree or another, therefore, every person who is aware of this should learn to develop flexibility and understanding in themselves in relation to other people. This is achieved by developing a positive perception, intercultural competence and the ability to establish interaction with representatives of different races and cultures.