Final answer:
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own group is superior to other groups. Sociologist William Graham Sumner described it as the belief that one's culture is inherently better than others, and it can potentially lead to harmful consequences toward other groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that reflects the belief that one's own group is superior to other groups is ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism involves evaluating and judging another culture based on the standards and norms of one's own culture, often with the assumption that one's own cultural way of doing things is the correct or superior way. As defined by sociologist William Graham Sumner, it is the attitude that one's own culture is better than all others, which is a sentiment that can be found to varying degrees in most individuals.
It is important to distinguish ethnocentrism from other concepts such as xenocentrism, which is the belief that another culture is superior to one's own. A critical aspect of ethnocentrism is that it can lead to a lack of appreciation for the unique qualities and accomplishments of other cultures, and in extreme cases, can justify harm, exploitation, or domination of other groups.