Word for a belief that ... ?

"Political Correctness" comes to mind.


And welcome to A2K, Charli.



timber

Brainwashing!

Let me join Timber in welcoming you to A2K!! You'll enjoy it here!

Anon

Marshall McLuhanism

paradigm - regardless of the belief's validity or origin.

The word used to be badly over worked, but seems to have finally settled down to its straight time rate

Thanks to everyone for your answers. They're all very good. Possibly any one of them would fit to explain a mind set as I have described it.

A small digression: Weren't McLuhan's ideas latched onto by the 60's activists. Thought I remembered the name from a song of that time.

Back to this belief thing. At a party this past weekend, I was trying to explain a pervasive belief by people in other countries that all Americans are "rich." I told a story about when in Buenos Aires, Argentina, several years ago I said to a young Argentinian that many Americans work two or three jobs constantly just to survive. And, that I didn't mean the new immigrants, but a lot folks whose ancestors settled in this country years ago.

I continued the reiteration by saying, "The Argentinian looked me straight in the eye and said, 'I don't believe you.'" Does this pervasive belief have a name? Or, can we apply one that has been given here? (It might have to do with the illusion of something existing because we want it to.) Again, thanks for your input.

Charli, perhaps "stereotyping" approaches the meaning you seek.

The American's are rich and lazy. The British are humorless. Politicians are scoundrels. (Insert favorite group) are ignorant.

Any such all-inclusive personification is stereotyping, and by any standard of debate or logic invalid.



timber

Charli<

I think the word you seek is "myth."

Charli, first off Welcome aboard for the ride.

Try sending a PM (Personnel Message) to Bibliophile the BibleGuru.



He is a wordsmith guru extra ordinary.

Hello Charli, and has been said before, "welcome to A2K!"

You were inquiring about, "a pervasive belief by people in other countries that all Americans are 'rich.'"

There are a few possibilities here, but they only touch on part of your request's criteria. Applying your question to "other countries" in general, as opposed to America alone, may yield some answers.

For example:
ROORBACK - An ugly rumor of fabricated news, created to discredit an opponent.
STEREOTYPE - A person or thing seeming to conform to widely accepted type or belief.
PLUTOLATRY: worship of wealth.
AFFLUENCY - Generously supplied with money, property, or possessions; prosperous or rich.
MAMMONISM - devotion to pursuit of wealth.


But I think the word which comes closest to what you're looking for is:

XENOCENTRISM - The tendency to assume that aspects of other cultures are superior to one's own, especially with respect to wealth.

It's the best I can come up with for now.

Bib - THANK YOU! Will the wonders of electronic communication never cease! I did a copy-and-paste of your post and emailed it to the "party participants." They've responded "already" with, "YES! That's it ... the word no one could think of ... XENOCENTRISM!"

We all thank everyone here for participating in this discussion and improving our vocabularies immensely. My friends and I are also quite taken with A2K. So glad to be here; thank you for the warm welcome. Charli

Glad to be of service.

My late grandfather is the man to thank. He was a lexicographer and has left me all his rare reference resources, and given me a great love of WORDS.
From the age of 9, I had to learn 20 new words each day, until I finally rebelled at age 14 - having learned, memorised and understood over 35,000 words!

Needless to say, I've retained many of those words in my vocabulary.

Please don't feel xenocentrist about this, though. :wink:

A hoax.

Yes myth, sometimes urban myth.

Commonly-held misconception.

Preconception.