What is the term for making a preconceived judgment about someone based on their appearance or background?

The correct term for making a preconceived judgment about someone based on their appearance or background is prejudice. Prejudice refers specifically to an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand regarding an individual or group, often without sufficient knowledge or justification. This judgment is typically rooted in stereotypes or preconceived notions about particular characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status.

In contrast, stereotyping involves creating oversimplified and widely held images or ideas about a particular group, which can lead to prejudice. Bias generally refers to a tendency to favor one person, group, or thing over another, and can manifest in various forms, including cognitive biases in decision-making. Discrimination, on the other hand, is the act of treating someone differently or unfairly based on prejudiced beliefs or biases, often resulting in negative outcomes for the affected individuals or groups. Hence, while all these terms are interconnected, prejudice specifically captures the essence of forming judgments based on preconceived notions related to appearance or background.