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In logic and reasoning, a faulty generalization, similar to a proof by example in mathematics, is a conclusion made about all or many instances of a phenomenon, that has been reached on the basis of one or a few instances of that phenomenon.[1][2] It is an example of jumping to conclusions.[3] For example, one may generalize about all people or all members of a group, based on what they know about just one or a few people:
If one meets an angry person from a given country X, they may suspect that most people in country X are often angry.
If one sees only white swans, they may suspect that all swans are white.
Faulty generalizations may lead to further incorrect conclusions. One may, for example, conclude that citizens of country X are genetically inferior, or that poverty is entirely the fault of the poor.
One example might be one or a few idiots send death threats to someone, and an observer then concludes that this must be a widespread phenomenon.