Final answer:
The tendency to view one's own culture as normal and superior is called ethnocentrism. It is the belief that one's own culture is better than others and can lead to cultural misunderstandings and conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tendency to view one's own culture and way of life as normal and superior to all others is called ethnocentrism. This belief system involves evaluating and judging another culture based on the standards and norms of one's own culture. Ethnocentrism can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts between different cultural groups because it tends to dismiss the validity of other cultures' ways of life. Sociologist William Graham Sumner defined ethnocentrism as the viewpoint that one's own culture is better than all others, a sentiment that can be observed in various contexts around the world.
In contrast, cultural relativism is the recognition that each culture has its own value system and must be understood based on its own context. Multiculturalism champions the coexistence and appreciation of diverse cultures within a society. In the face of ethnocentrism, xenophobia presents itself as an irrational fear or hatred of other cultures, which is distinct from the superiority aspect of ethnocentrism. Xenocentrism, on the other hand, is the belief that another culture is superior to one's own. It is critical to address ethnocentric views to foster more inclusive and respectful interactions among diverse cultural groups.