What logical error occurs when a particular situation is incorrectly generalized to apply to everyone?

The correct answer is a sweeping generalization. This logical error occurs when a conclusion is drawn about a whole group based on an insufficient or unrepresentative sample. Essentially, it involves taking one instance or a limited set of instances and incorrectly applying that characteristic to everyone within a broader category.

For example, if someone argues that because one member of a particular group acted in a dishonest way, all members of that group must be dishonest, they are committing a sweeping generalization. This type of reasoning ignores the diversity and individuality within the larger group, leading to a faulty generalization.

Other types of logical errors listed, such as non sequitur, tu quoque, and red herring, pertain to different issues in critical thinking. Non sequitur involves conclusions that do not logically follow from the premises, tu quoque is an attempt to discredit an opponent's argument by pointing out their hypocrisy, and red herring refers to diverting attention from the main issue by introducing irrelevant information. Each of these errors operates under different principles of flawed reasoning, but sweeping generalization is specifically focused on the inappropriate application of a specific case to a broader group.