What is the logical fallacy when one concludes that because a few members of a group exhibit a trait, all members must have that trait?

The logical fallacy in question is known as Hasty Generalization. This fallacy occurs when someone makes a broad conclusion based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence. In this case, if it is observed that a few individuals within a specific group possess a certain trait, concluding that all members of that group share that same trait is an overgeneralization.

This form of reasoning ignores the potential diversity within the group and relies on a limited sample size, leading to potentially inaccurate and misleading conclusions. For example, if three people from a basketball team are not good at free throws, one might incorrectly conclude that all players on the team typically struggle with free throws, without considering the skills and performance of other members of the team.

Recognizing Hasty Generalization helps reinforce the need for thorough evidence before making conclusions about entire groups based on the behavior or characteristics of only a few individuals.