Essentialist Theory

Essentialist Theory is the idea that certain categories, like species or social groups, have a set of inherent characteristics that define them. In general knowledge, this means that we often believe that things have an essential identity that doesn't change. For instance, we might see all members of a species as having fixed traits that distinguish them from others. While this perspective can help classify and understand the world, it can also oversimplify the complexities and variations within categories, leading to stereotypes or misconceptions.