Final answer:
A stereotype is a simplified and often inaccurate belief that attributes certain characteristics to all members of a group, regardless of individual variations within the group.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that can be defined as a cluster of characteristics that are associated with all members of a specific social group, often including qualities that are unrelated to the objective evidence that define the group, is stereotype. A stereotype is an oversimplified generalization about a group of people, which does not take individual differences into account. These stereotypes can be based on various characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, or age, and they are often negative, although they can sometimes be positive when referring to one's own group.