Which term describes an adverse judgment or opinion formed before examining the facts?

• A. Discrimination
• B. Ethnocentrism
• C. Culture
• D. Prejudice

Answer: (D)

An adverse judgment or opinion formed before examining the facts is prejudice. Prejudice is a negative attitude toward someone or a group that’s established in advance, often built on stereotypes rather than evidence. It explains why someone might feel or think poorly about another person before getting to know them, which can lead to biased behavior later.

Discrimination describes acting on biased beliefs, such as treating someone unfairly because of their group membership. Ethnocentrism is judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own, which can fuel prejudice but isn’t the same as the pre-judgment itself. Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group. So the term that best fits the idea of forming a negative opinion without looking at the facts is prejudice.