What term describes the bias held by the mother against her daughter's potential association with a foreign exchange student?

The term that most accurately describes the bias held by the mother against her daughter's potential association with a foreign exchange student is prejudice. Prejudice refers to preconceived opinions or attitudes about certain groups of people, often based on stereotypes, without sufficient knowledge or experience. In this context, the mother's bias suggests she holds negative beliefs about individuals from a particular background, potentially leading her to unfairly judge the foreign exchange student based solely on their nationality or culture rather than on personal merit.

The other terms do not align as closely with the scenario presented. Rationalization involves justifying one's beliefs or actions, often when they do not reflect one's values or ethical stance; however, it does not inherently focus on bias against others. Radicalism refers to the beliefs or actions of individuals who advocate for significant political or social changes, often through extreme means, which does not relate to personal biases or opinions. Wishful thinking denotes the formation of beliefs based on what one wishes to be true rather than evidence or reality, which again does not encapsulate the specific bias in question. Therefore, prejudice is the most fitting term for this situation, highlighting the unfair assumptions or generalizations made based on preconceived notions.