This is one of the main cognitive distortions, and also a logical fallacy. It means to make a conclusion based on either a small sample, an unrepresentative sample, past experiences or memories which are also not representative of the whole.
A hasty generalisation typically follows this pattern:
A small sample is taken from a larger population.
A conclusion is drawn based on that small sample.
The conclusion is then applied to the entire population.
For example, a person’s first attempt at a sexual experience might be negative, perhaps the partner was cold or body shaming, and the conclusion is that:
“Men/women are superficial and shame me when I try to be intimate “.
Of course, logically, it is just one person who did this and there is lots of contradictory evidence to that one person/experience. In one way, the response is a good evolutionary adaptation. If you have a bad experience and your mind tries to stop you ever trying it in the future, then you are safe and can never be hurt again. It’s a kind of deep-rooted survival instinct. In our distant evolutionary past, our caveman ancestor could have said, ‘Tiger chase me, all tiger bad,’ and stay away. We survived as a species because of this. However, it doesn’t apply as well to dating or finding a partner.
Generalizing leads to stereotyping, concluding men/women are like _________ and do this _________ constantly, based on a few experiences. But also the “mental filter ” can play into this, once you’ve made the conclusion, you’ll tend to focus on examples that strengthen the conclusion (and so protect you from hurt). Conversely, any positive evidence is dismissed (discounting the positive). So a person who makes this conclusion and unconsciously lives by it will never be hurt. But think of the saying, “Ships are safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships were made for “.
There’s being hurt and there’s being in pain.
You don’t know.
You don’t know me.
We’re all different.
I’m not the same as people who look like me.
You are not the same as people who look like you.
More examples
Rejection leads to overgeneralisation
A person who has been rejected romantically a few times may start to believe they are unlovable and will never find a partner. They might think, “Every time I ask someone out, they reject me. I must be undateable.” This is a hasty generalisation – a few rejections do not mean they are doomed to be alone forever. Many factors influence dating success beyond just the individual.
Focusing on negative examples
Someone who feels Forever Alone may start to notice and remember every time they see a couple or happy family. They might think, “Everywhere I look, people are in relationships. I’m the only one alone.” However, this is an overgeneralisation. There are many single people in the world, but they are less visible than couples. Focusing only on the negative examples leads to a distorted view.
Assuming shared traits
A person who is Involuntarily Celibate may start to believe that all women are shallow or only attracted to “Chad” (an attractive, confident man). They might think, “No woman will ever date me because I’m not a tall, muscular guy with a perfect jawline.” This is a hasty generalisation. There are many factors that influence attraction, and not all women have the same preferences. Assuming all women share the same traits is an overgeneralisation.
Dismissing positive experiences
If a Forever Alone person has a positive interaction with someone, they may dismiss it. For example, they might think, “That woman was just being polite, she doesn’t actually like me.” This is a hasty generalisation – one friendly interaction does not mean the person is in love. Dismissing all positive experiences as meaningless leads to a negative, distorted view.